Modification of porous suspension-PVC particles by stabilizer-free aqueous dispersion polymerization of absorbed monomers

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science Vol. 42; no. 5; pp. 911 - 924
• Main Authors: Shach-Caplan, M., Narkis, M., Silverstein, M. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-05-2002; Wiley Subscription Services; Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Absorption; Applied sciences; Chemical modification; Copolymers; Crosslinking; Exact sciences and technology; Monomers; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymerization; Polymers; Polymethyl methacrylates; Polystyrene; Polyvinyl chloride; Porous materials; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Stabilizers (agents); Suspensions (fluids); In situ; Porous medium; Methyl methacrylate polymer; Experimental study; Property processing relationship; Heterogeneous polymerization; Structure processing relationship; Free radical polymerization; Dynamic mechanical properties; Morphology; Preparation; Crosslinked polymer; Styrene polymer; Porosity; Polyvinyl chloride
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.11001

The modification of porous PVC particles by an in‐situ stabilizer‐free polymerization/crosslinking of a monomer/crosslinker/peroxide solution absorbed within the PVC particles is presented. The modifying crosslinked polymers are polystyrene (PS) crosslinked with DVB (divinyl benzene), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) crosslinked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and styrene‐MMA copolymer crosslinked with DVB. The modified PVC particles characterization includes polymerization yield, non‐extractables, 13C solid‐state CPMAS NMR, porosity measurements and also morphology and dynamic mechanical behavior (DMTA). The levels of nonextractable fractions found and 13C solid‐state CPMAS NMR results are indicative of low chemical interaction in the semi‐IPN PVC particles. Particle porosity levels and SEM observations indicate that styrene and MMA mainly polymerize within the PVC particles' bulk and just small amounts in the pores. MMA polymerization in the PVC pores is as crusts covering the PVC pore surfaces, whereas styrene polymerization in the PVC pores is by filling the pores. Dynamic mechanical studies show that tanδ and the storage modulus curves are influenced by the incorporation of PS and XPS but not by the incorporation of PMMA and XPMMA.