Peroxide-initiated vinylsilane grafting: Structural studies on a hydrocarbon substrate

The peroxide-initiated grafting of vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) onto dodecane has been examined as a model for grafting onto polyethylene. At 160 degrees C, 2% v/v VTMS and 0.08% v/v initiator, the monomer was grafted onto dodecane with a 59% conversion and an average of 2.37 VTMS grafts per dodecane. These values were obtained by separation of the grafted material through reduced pressure distillation then characterization with FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and gel permeation chromatography. NMR studies strongly indicate that the multiple grafts consist predominantly of multiple single grafts rather than homopolymer grafts. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.