• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.256-262
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• 2010

Dispersion polymerization of methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, and glycidyl methacrylate were performed in supercritical $CO_2$ at $80\;^{\circ}C$ and 346 bar. Glycidyl methacrylate linked poly(dimethylsiloxane) (GMS-PDMS) surfactant, which was prepared by linking glycidyl methacrylate to monoglycidyl ether terminated PDMS with amino-propyltriethoxysilane, was used as surfactant for the dispersion polymerization in $CO_2$. The yield of the poly(alkyl acrylate) polymers, synthesized in $CO_2$ medium, decreased as the alkyl tail of the acrylate monomers increased. Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) and poly(methyl acrylate) were produced in bead form whereas poly(ethyl acrylate) and poly(butyl acrylate) were viscous liquid. The poly(glycidyl methacrylate) particles had a number average diameter of 2.45 ${\mu}m$ and monodisperse distribution. The poly(methyl acrylate) had a number average diameter of 0.52 ${\mu}m$ and the particle size distribution was bimodal. The glass transition temperatures ($T_g$) of the poly(glycidyl methacrylate) and the poly(alkyl acrylate) products were 4~9 K higher than the $T_g$ of the corresponding acrylate polymers synthesized in conventional processes.

• Clean Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.180-185
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• 2009

The ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM) scrap generated from automobile weatherstrip manufacturing process was used to make a thermoplastic elastomer through blending with polypropylene. The surface activated EPDM powder was obtained by the high temperature and shear pulverizer. The addition of surfactant resulted in more surface activated EPDM powder and the optimum loading amounts of surfactant was 1.5 phr. Maleic anhydride was grafted onto polypropylene by reactive blending to give functionalized polypropylene. The wetting property between EPDM scrap and polypropylene was improved by the addition of poly (ethylene-co-acrylic acid) as a compatibilizing agent. Poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) decreased the surface tension of polypropylene and thus would contribute to the wettability with EPDM powder.