Functionalisation of Polyolefins: Grafting of Phenol Groups on Olefin/5,7-Dimethylocta-1,6-diene Copolymers

The grafting of phenol groups on ethylene/5,7‐dimethylocta‐1,6‐diene copolymers and on ethylene/propylene/5,7‐dimethylocta‐1,6‐diene terpolymers was performed, using two different modification procedures. An indirect route involving hydrochlorination followed by phenol insertion was found to be very effective for the terpolymers, and lead to a grafting phenol rate higher than 75%. However, if the phenol grafting is performed directly on a non‐modified terpolymer, lower rates are obtained. When applied to the copolymers the procedures used were revealed to be less efficient. This fact might be related to the lower solubility of the ethylene/5,7‐dimethylocta‐1,6‐diene copolymers (related to a higher crystallinity and a smaller diene content) when compared with the corresponding terpolymers. Although incomplete, the addition of a hindered phenol to the copolymer gave rise to a polymer that, when compared to polyethylene, presents a higher thermal‐oxidative stability. Grafting of phenol on a hydrochlorinated ethylene/propylene/5,7‐DMO terpolymer.