Synthesis and characterization of poly(vinyl chloride)-g-poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) copolymers

Poly(vinyl chloride)-g-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PVC-g-PHEMA) copolymers were prepared by the aqueous suspension-swelling graft copolymerization process. The, grafting of HEMA on PVC was confirmed by. the infrared spectrum. The grafting degree increased with the increase of feeding mass fraction Of HEMA, and a maximum grafting efficiency appeared at 10% mass fraction of HEMA in feed. The grafting degree and efficiency,increased as partially dehydrochlorinated PVC was used. The intrinsic viscosity of graft copolymers increased slowly with the increase of the grafting degree of HEMA, and decreased at high grafting degrees. PVC-g-PHEMA copolymers exhibited a higher glass transition temperature (T-g) in the first DSC run than that in the second run, and T-g of graft copolymers increased as the grafting degree increased.