High oil-absorptive composites based on 4-tert-butylstyrene-EPDM-divinylbenzene graft polymer

• Published in: Polymer international 2001-11, Vol.50 (11), p.1193-1200
• Main Authors: Zhou, Mei Hua, Cho, Won-Jei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 4-tert-butylstyrene-EPDM-divinylbenzene polymer; Applied sciences; composite; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; oil absorbent; Polymer industry, paints, wood; pseudo-critical gel; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0959-8103; 1097-0126
• DOI: 10.1002/pi.762

4‐tert‐Butylstyrene‐EPDM‐divinylbenzene graft polymer (PBED) was prepared by graft crosslinking polymerization in toluene using BPO as an initiator. Gel and sol of PBED were isolated by extraction with tetrahydrofuran (THF). Sol PBED can be reused as oil absorbent through cross‐linking by ultraviolet irradiation. After swelling in oil, crosslinked polymers have poor gel strength to be taken out of oil wholly at high absorbency, although they possess strong mechanical strength in their dry states. As known, composite technique is one of the useful methods for material reinforcement. Fibres, sponges and non‐woven fabrics were used as reinforcers or supporters in this work. Oil absorbency was measured by method ASTM (F726‐81) and swelling kinetics of the composite was evaluated by an experimental equation. The gel strength parameter S, the relaxation exponent n, and the fractal dimension df of polymer and some composites in pseudo‐critical gel state were determined from oscillatory shear measurements by a dynamic rheometer. Mechanical properties and the morphologies of some composites were measured with a tensile tester and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry