Dyeability and swelling properties of graft copolymers of LDPE with 2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate monomer prepared by gamma radiation

Abstract Low density polyethylene (LDPE) films were grafted with 2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) monomer by gamma radiation. The LDPE graft copolymer was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, tensile mechanical testing, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The dye affinity of LDPE graft copolymers for different dyestuffs was studied. Also, the effect of temperature on the swelling characters of LDPE‐ g ‐HPMA was investigated. The TGA study showed that the LDPE graft copolymers, over the studied graft yields, possessed higher thermal stability than pure LDPE polymer. While, LDPE has no dye affinity for any of the known dyestuffs, LDPE graft copolymers displayed a unique dye affinity for a wide range of dyestuffs belonging to different classes. The results showed that the equilibrium swelling of LDPE graft copolymers in water reached after 7 h. In addition, the results showed that the swelling of LDPE graft copolymers was influenced by temperature within the temperature range 10–40°C. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers