Radiation-Induced Graft Copolymerization of Styrene to Polyvinyl Chloride) Latex in a Pilot Plant System

Abstract
A pilot plant study of the radiation grafting of styrene to polyvinyl chloride) (PVC) latex is described. When correct extraction conditions are used less than 3% grafting took place. This is shown to be due to the low total radiation doses needed to polymerize the styrene in an emulsion system. A parallel study with PVC film did, however, lead to substantial true grafting. The G (radical) value for PVC film as determined by ESR was found to be 4.6.