ABSTRACT: This work reports a study about the functionalization of polypropylene (PP) with vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) in solution and in melt state, using dibenzoylperoxide (DBP) and dicumylperoxide (DCP) as free radical sources. The influence of silane and peroxide concentrations on the degree of functionalization was followed by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR). Reactions performed in the melt state showed to be more effective in accomplishing functionalization. Torque measurements and molecular weight determinations, by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), showed that chain scission was always present, and it was more pronounced in the melt state reactions.
Polypropylene functionalization; vinylsilane; solution; melt-mixing; molecular weight
