Reactive Modifiers for Polymers

There is considerable interest within the polymer industry in developing approaches to modification of polymer systems to achieve improved or altered performance. Reactive processing is perceived by the polymer industry as an economic route to achieving modification targets, and a great deal of research is being carried out into understanding the chemistry of modification and thus develop the technology further. By bringing together workers involved in both basic research and various development programmes, this book provides a review of this commercially important technique.

Table of Contents:
1 Free-radical grafting of monomers onto polymers by reactive extrusion: principles and applications.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Free-radical grafting: an overall mechanistic view.- 1.3 Melt free-radical grafting: particular features.- 1.4 Challenges facing melt free-radical grafting.- 1.5 Recent advances in melt free-radical grafting.- 1.6 Concluding remarks.- Appendix l.A.- References.- 2 Modification of polypropylene by organic peroxides.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Background.- 2.3 Modifications of PP by organic peroxides.- 2.4 Future trends.- Acknowledgements.- Appendix 2.A.- 2.A.1 List of abbreviations.- References.- 3 Blends of polyamides and maleic-anhydride- containing polymers: interfacial chemistry and properties.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Interdependence of chemistry, rheology and morphology-interface.- 3.3 Relationships between morphology-interface and blend properties.- 3.4 Overall model and future trends.- Appendix 3.A.- 3.A.1 List of abbreviations.- References.- 4 Modification of polymer melts by oxazolines and their use for interfacial coupling reactions with other functional polymers.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Preparation of oxazoline-functionalized polymers.- 4.3 Interfacial reactions with other functional polymers.- 4.4 Modification of polymer melts by bis-2-oxazolines.- 4.5 Conclusions.- 4.6 Future trends.- Appendix 4.A.- 4.A.1 List of abbreviations.- References.- 5 Moisture cross-linkable silane-modified polyolefins.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Processes for cross-linking polyolefins.- 5.3 The chemistry of silane cross-linking.- 5.4 Silane-grafting processes.- 5.5 Silane copolymerisation processes.- 5.6 Structure and general properties of silane cross-linked polyolefins.- 5.7 Applications of silane cross-linked polyolefins.- 5.8 Other silane cross-linking approaches.- 5.9 Concluding remarks and future trends.- Appendix 5.A.- 5.A.1 List of abbreviations.- References.- 6 Reactive antioxidants for polymers.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Antioxidants and polymer oxidation: a mechanistic overview.- 6.3 Effect of chemical structure and physical factors on antioxidant performance.- 6.4 Reactive antioxidants and routes to antioxidant permanency in polymers.- 6.5 Concluding remarks.- Appendix 6.A.- 6.A.1 Abbreviations.- References.- 7 Synthesis of poly olefin graft and block copolymers by reactive borane reagents and applications in polyolefin trends and composites.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Synthesis of borane-functionalized olefinic polymers.- 7.3 Utilization of borane-functionalized polymers in graft and block copolymer formation.- 7.4 The use of graft and block copolymers prepared via borane- functionalized polymer intermediates in the compatibilization of polymer blends.- 7.5 Conclusions and future trends.- Acknowledgement.- Appendix 7.A.- 7.A.1 List of abbreviations.- References.- 8 Electron beam radiation graft modification of preformed polymer architecture.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Principles of pre-irradiation electron-beam grafting in inert atmosphere.- 8.3 Parameters affecting electron-beam grafting.- 8.4 Different polymer architectures suitable for electron-beam grafting.- 8.5 Applications of electron-beam grafting.- 8.6 Concluding remarks.- Appendix 8.A.- 8.A.1 List of abbreviations.- References.- 9 Thermoplastic elastomers based on elastomer/thermoplastic blends dynamically vulcanized.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 The preparation of elastomer/plastic blends by dynamic vulcanization.- 9.3 Properties of blends prepared by dynamic vulcanization.- 9.4 Technological applications.- Appendix 9.A.- 9.A.1 Abbreviations.- References.