Abstract

OPTIMISATION OF GRAFTING PARAMETERS OF SILICA GEL GRAFT COPOLYMERS

Sangeetha K., Devipriya D. and Vijayalakshmi K.

Abstract

The present work deals with the successful synthesis of silica gel (SG)- graft- 2 hydroxy ethyl acrylate (2 HEA) and silica gel (SG)-graftmaleic anhydride (2 HEA)copolymer using ceric ammonium nitrate as a redox initiator in aqueous nitric acid medium. In order to achieve the highest grafting percentage, the effect of various grafting parameters such as the concentration of initiator, temperature, monomer, polymer (SG) and concentration of nitric acid on the grafting parameters (GE (%), GY (%), GP (%) and (%C)) was systematically evaluated and optimized for the graft copolymer. Each of these parameters was varied one by one by keeping other conditions constant in the reaction. From the observed results it was evident that the grafting parameters were increased initially but thereafter it declines with increase in the concentration of initiator, temperature, monomer, polymer, nitric acid all the results were investigated.

Keywords: Silica gel, 2 hydroxy ethyl acryalte, maleic anhydride, graft copolymerization; ceric ammonium nitrate.