Melt-Grafting of Maleimides Having Hindered Phenol Group onto Polypropylene

Monomeric antioxidant 1 was prepared by the reaction of 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol with N-[4-(chlorocarbonyl)phenyl]maleimide in the presence of imidazole. Monomeric antioxidant 2, bearing carbamate group, was synthesized from the reaction of 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and azidomaleimide. Antioxidant 3 was prepared by the reaction of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)maleimide and 3-(3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic chloride in the presence of triethylamine. These reactive antioxidants were grafted onto polypropylene (PP) by melt-processing with free radical initiators in a mini-max moulder. From the infrared spectra of the grafted PP, it was found that the monomeric antioxidants were grafted onto PP. IR spectroscopic methods were used for the quantitative determination of the extent of grafting of monomeric antioxidant. To optimize the reaction conditions, the influences of the concentration of DCP, monomeric antioxidant, reaction time and temperature on the extent of grafting were studied.