Modification of low-molecular-weight polyethylene through grafted copolymerization with methyl acrylate

Kudyshkin, Valentin Olegovich; Bozorov, Nurad Ismatovich; Madiev, Ruslan Khaitkulovich; Ruziev, Bektemir Khamidovich; Ashurov, Nurbek Shodievich; Rashidova, Sayera Sharafovna

doi:10.22063/poj.2025.35623.1343

Modification of low-molecular-weight polyethylene through grafted copolymerization with methyl acrylate

Document Type : Original research

Authors

Valentin Olegovich Kudyshkin ¹

Nurad Ismatovich Bozorov ¹

Ruslan Khaitkulovich Madiev ²

Bektemir Khamidovich Ruziev ²

Nurbek Shodievich Ashurov ¹

Sayera Sharafovna Rashidova ¹

¹ Institute of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 100128 Tashkent, Uzbekistan

² JSC “Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex”, 131300, Kashkadarya viloyat, Shurtan stl., Uzbekistan

https://doi.org/10.22063/poj.2025.35623.1343

Abstract

Copolymers of methyl acrylate were grafted onto low-molecular-weight polyethylene in the presence of benzoyl peroxide in o-xylene. The formation of these copolymers was confirmed by functional analysis of the ether groups and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Various synthesis patterns were demonstrated, which furnished grafted copolymers with a wide range of compositions. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that grafting led to changes in the crystalline structure of low-molecular-weight polyethylene. The grafting sequences of the methyl acrylate units may disrupt the order of the crystalline planes in polyethylene, and with an increase in their content, the crystalline phase in polyethylene becomes less prominent. These copolymers can be used as compatibilizers for CB-filled polyethylene (CB: carbon black). The effect of the grafted copolymers on the properties of high-density polyethylene composites containing CB was evaluated. The composites of polyethylene and the grafted copolymers exhibited enhanced thermal stability, plausibly associated with a decrease in the average size of the CB particles.

Keywords

Grafted copolymerization

polyethylene

methylacrylate

carbon black

structure

Subjects

Polyolefins Functionalization

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