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Polyvinyl chloride was first dehydrochlorinated by LiCl in DMF at 353 K and then grafted with methylmethacrylate using benzoylperoxide as free radical initiator in an inert atmosphere. Studies were carried out to determine the optimum graft condition such as initiator, monomer and polymer concentration.
It was found that the percentage of grafting and rate of grafting were all dependent to some extent, on the concentration of the initiator, monomer and polymer, reaction time and temperature. The kinetics of the graft polymerization of MMA onto PVC was studied by gravimetry.
The following rate expression observed:
Rg = K[MMA]0.977[DHPVC]0.545[BPO]0.545
Suitable mechanism is suggested. The dehydrochlorination and the graft copolymer were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy.
The overall activation energy is found to be 37.44 KJ/mol, within the temperature range 40-70 ?C.