Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 2014, 2, 43-51
Published Online October 2014 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/msce
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/msce.2014.210007
How to cite this paper: Oromiehie, A.R., Ebadi-Dehaghani, H., Ansari, K., Karimi, K., Rahmani, Z. and Mirbagheri, S. (2014)
Preparation and Characterization of Functionalized Polypropylene with Acrylamide and Itaconic Acid. Journal of Materials
Science and Chemical Engineering, 2, 43-51. h ttp://dx.doi.org/10.4236/msce.2014.210007
Preparation and Characterization of
Functionalized Polypropylene with
Acrylamide and Itaconic Acid
A. R. Oromiehie1, H. Ebadi-Dehaghani2*, K. Ansari1, K. Karimi2, Z. Rahmani2, S. Mirbagheri1
1Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, Iran
2Shahreza Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahreza, Iran
Received September 2014
Abstract
Functionalized polypropylene with acryl amide (AAm) and itaconic acid (IA) were prepared in the
molten state in the presence of dicumyl peroxide. The effects of the concentration of both mono-
mers on the degree of functionalization and properties of the products were investigated by FT-IR,
contact angle measurement and DSC analysis. It was found that the degree of functionalization
depends on the initial concentration of both monomers that used in the reaction. The influence of
the AAm and IA content on the melting and crystallization temperature of PP was investigated by
DSC. The contact angle of water on film surfaces of the functionalized PP (PP-g-AAm and PP-g-IA)
decreased with increasing modified polymer content. From FT-IR spectra of functionalized PP a
calculation was made of carbonyl index on the films surfaces. It was found that the higher intensity
of the carbonyl index, the lower contact angle value and the lower crystallinity confirmed the ex-
istence of functionalized AAm and/or IA in PP. It was concluded from the different characteriza-
tion methods that the polarity and percentage of functionalized PP were increased up to 3 phr for
both monomers, and then it was decreased by increasing the amount of monomers and had a
threshold value, due to nucleating agents of monomers in PP.
Keywords
Functionalized Polypropylene, Acryl Amide, Itaconic Acid, FT-IR, Contact Angle
1. Introduction
Funcionalization of polyolefin’s (POs) through graft copolymerization containing polar and active functional
groups onto polymer chain has been the subject of intense research during recent years [1]-[8]. By this method,
some properties of polyolefins such as polarity, adhesion with metal, glass or ceramic, and compatibility with
polyamides, polyesters, etc. could be greatly improved. Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) is one of the most impor-
*Corresponding author.

A. R. Oromiehie et al.
44
tant thermoplastics in the world today. PP has gained an important position among other POs due to its versatil-
ity and broad range of applications [9]. However, the application of PP in some technologically important fields
seems to be limited due to its lack of polar functional groups as well as its inherent incompatibility with addi-
tives and other polar polymers [10] [11].
Chemical modification of PP by mean of grafting unsaturated polar groups onto the backbone of non-polar
resins has proven to be available method of providing PP with additional properties [10]. In fact, these kinds of
grafted polymers have been widely used to improve interfacial adhesion between the components in polymer
blends [5] [6] [12]-[14]. A large number of reports have focused on the fictionalization of PP with maleic anhy-
dride and other polar monomers such as unsaturated carboxylic derives and vinyl or acrylic substances contain-
ing more than one functional groups [10] [11] [14]-[26].
Since little research work has been published using acryl amide and itaconic acid as polar monomers, which
are characterized by having double functionality, we have carried out a study that looking for the possibility of
placing these monomers onto PP chains.
From the literature, it can be deduced that the functionalizing mechanism, concentration, structure and loca-
tion of the functionalized groups are to a large extent influenced by the functionalizing method and the reaction
conditions (temperature, pressure, concentration, solvent, additive, etc.). In this work the organic peroxide
structure, the polypropylene grade, the melt temperature, and the reaction time were kept constant. Only con-
centration of the monomers was varied. Functionalization reactions of monomers on PP were prepared by melt
mixing carried out in an internal mixer (Haake rheometer System 90). The effects of the concentration of both
monomers (acryl amide and itaconic acid) on the degree of functionalization and the properties of functionalized
PP (PP-g-AAm and PP-g-IA) were investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy, contact angle measurement and thermal
analysis respectively.
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2. Experimental
2.1. Materials
Isotactic Polypropylene (iPP) (V30S) was from Arak Petrochemical Co. Iran, acrylamide (AAm), itaconic acid
(IA), dicumyl peroxide (DCP), acetone and xylene were from Merck Co. and Irganox B225 from Ciba Co. All
of materials were used as received.
2.2. Preparation of Functionalized Polypropylene
Functionalization reactions on PP were carried out in an internal mixer (Rheomix 60) attached to a micropro-
cessor (Haake Rheometer System 90). In both cases the process reaction was carried out in optimum processing
condition [14] [21] at 1700C and 60 rpm for 8 min, PP was mixed with anti-oxidant and introduced into the
mixer. After 2 min., 0.1 phr of DCP was added and after 1 min monomer was added to the molten polymer. Five
minutes later the reactor was opened and the melt mixture cooled and pressed into sheets to facilitate cutting into
small pellets. The initial monomer concentration was varied from 1 - 4 phr.
2.3. Preparation of Samples
In order to remove the unreacted monomers, the functionalized PP (5 gr) was dissolved in boiling xylene under
reflux until a clear solution was obtained (about 30 min). The warm solution was precipitated in acetone (50 ml)
and filtered to obtain purified polymer, which was dried in a vacuum oven for 24 hr. at 110˚C.

A. R. Oromiehie et al.
45
2.4. Characterization
2.4.1. FT-IR Spectroscopy
The evidence of functionalizing as well as its extent was determined by FT-IR spectroscopy. Thin films of PP
and functionalized PP were obtained by compression molding between steel plates covered with thin aluminum
sheets at 1800 C. IR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Equinox 55 spectrometer from 400 - 4000 cm−1.
2.4.2. Contact Angle Measurement
The contact angles of distilled water on the films of 100 µm thick were measured by the sessile drop method
performed at room temperature by using a contact angle device Kruss Model G10 GmbH, equipped with soft-
ware for drop-shape analysis. The liquid drop (~2 - 3 μl) was placed onto the sample surface with a micro sy-
ringe. The drop image was recorded by a digitalized video camera. The drop shape was solved numerically and
fitted by means of mathematical functions. Each contact angle is the average value of 6 measurements. The
contact angle was obtained according to the following equation [19]:
( )
2 1 2/tanh w θ = −
(1)
where, θ is the contact angle, h is the height and w is the wide of the droplet that were measured from the photo-
graph and from the geometric considerations.
2.4.3. Thermal analysis (DSC)
Thermal properties of functionalized PP were recorded on a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Per-
kin-Elmer Model Pyris1.The analysis were carried out at constant heating rate of 100 C/min in the temperature
range of 250 C to 2000 C under nitrogen atmosphere. The sample was kept at 2000 C for 5 min. and then cold to
room temperature at a rate of 100 C/min.
The values obtained for the heat of fusion, from DSC measurement, for PP and functionalized PP samples
were used to estimate the percentage of crystallinity (Xc). This was done by using the value of fusion enthalpy
ΔHf of 100% crystalline PP as 50 cal/g [20]. The crystallinity of various samples was obtained according to the
following equation:
( ) ()
% /* 100
c ff
Crystallinity XHH=∆∆ ×
(2)
where ΔHf is the heat of fusion of functionalised PP and ΔHf* is the heat of fusion of 100% crystalline PP.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. FT-IR Spectroscopy
FT-IR Spectroscopy is a well-accepted method for identification and quantification of the polar groups that
present in a polymer surface. The IR spectrum of functionalised PP (PP-g-AAm and PP-g-IA) with overall content
of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 phr of monomers are given in Figure 1 and Figure 2 respectively. The FT-IR spectra of the
plain PP-g-AAm are shown in Figure 1. It can clearly be seen that the absorption peak at 1665 cm−1 may be as-
signed to the C=O stretching vibration of the amide group. This peak may be attributed to the carbonyl stretching
vibration of amide group and indication of the presence of grafted acrylamide on PP [26]. It also can be seen that
the intensity of carbonyl peaks increased by increasing the AAm monomer content from 1 up to 3 phr. This result
could be attributed to AAm moieties grafted onto PP chains. But the intensity of the carbonyl peaks decreased by
more adding of AAm (>3 phr). This is due to the AAm homopolymerization [16] [26].
The FT-IR spectra of PP-g-IA, with different amounts of monomer incorporated in the polypropylene chains are
shown in Figure 2. It is possible to distinguish the carbonyl absorption peak at 1710 cm−1 that due to the presence
of polar carboxylic acid of itaconic acid and the second absorption peak in the carbonyl region that appears at 1780
cm−1 is related to the carbonyl group of itaconic anhydride that probably formed during the functionalization
reaction. It can be seen in Figure 2 that the intensity of the carbonyl peaks increased by increasing the IA mo-
nomer content led to an increase in the functionality. For this particular study, it is seen that the ratio of functio-
nalizing depends on the initial monomer concentration for low values and particularly does not show any signif-
icant increase for higher monomer content. This could be due to the homopolymerization tendency of itaconic acid
[16] [23].

A. R. Oromiehie et al.
46
Figure 1. FT-IR spectra of PP-g-AAm.
Figure 2. FT-IR spectra of PP-g-IA.
From FT-IR spectra the Carbonyl Index (CI) was calculated as a ratio of the intensity of polar carbonyl group
from the functionalized PP and methyl group from PP (AFPP and APP respectively). Since CI is a relative mea-
surement, a calibration curve must be constructed, and the CI was calculated as: [17]
/
FPP PP
CI AA=
(3)
The ratio between the intensity of the peak at 1665 cm−1 due to the presence of the polar carbonyl group from
acrylamide and methyl group from PP at 1167 cm−1, which can be considered as a measure of the extent of func-
tionalising, is shown in Figure 3 and calculated as:
1665 1167
/CI AA=
(4)

A. R. Oromiehie et al.
47
Figure 3. Carbonyl Index of PP-g-AAm.
The carbonyl index (CI) as the ratio between the intensity of the absorption peak of carboxylic group of itaconic
acid and CH3 group of PP, was shown in Figure 4, which can be considered as a measure of the extent of func-
tionalizing that calculated by using the following equation:
1710 1167
/ CI AA=
(5)
It can be inferred from this increase on C=O stretching absorbance that the films’ surfaces contain increased
amounts of C=O polar groups as the content of functionalized polymer is also increased.
3.2. Contact Angle Measurement
Contact angle measurement of a solid/liquid interface is widely used method for the determination of surface
energy of solid polymers. This technique is an excellent method for characterizing the surface that gives infor-
mation on the wetting behavior of a liquid on a solid surface and determines the polarity of the functionalized
polymer [19] [24] [27]. The polarity of the functionalized PP was measured by contact angle of distilled water on
the sample films. The contact angle for a pure PP film without any functionalized monomer was measured and it
was 97˚. The contact angle of the functionalized PP samples were measured and noted that it decreases as the
monomer content increases. The contact angle of water on the PP-g-AAm and PP-g-IA copolymers is indicated in
Figure 5 and Fi gure 6.
The contact angle values of functionalized PP (PP-g-AAm) decreased by increasing in the content of AAm
monomers up to 3 phr, when compared with the values of the control PP, but it increased by more content of
monomer Figure 5. This may be due to AAM homopolymerization [24] [25]. The contact angle is very sensitive
to the chemical and structural changes occurring on the polymer surface. In order to obtain the polar and disper-
sion components of the surface free energy the following equation was used [19] [24]
( )
1 Cos WA γθ = +
(6)
That (WA) is the work of adhesion, (θ) is contact angle at equilibrium and (γ) is free energy for distill water and
is 72.2 mN/m. The results of work of adhesion calculated according to above equation. In the case of PP-g-IA the
contact angle decrease as the itaconic acid contents were increased. The results of contact angles and the deter-
mining polarity rate of samples are shown in Figure 6.
Functionalization of polymer with polar functional groups (monomers) is the cause of increasing in hydrophilic
properties of total product. Increasing the hydrophilic properties is caused to higher adhesion of functional po-
lymer [15]. These phenomena can be seen in the results of contact angle of water on the surface of samples films
[15] [16].
3.3. Thermal Analysis
The DSC curves and thermal behavior of PP and functionalized PP (PP-g-AAm) are given in Figure 7 and Table
1. It was found that the functionalizing process did not affect the melting temperature of functionalized PP sam-
ples. The values obtained for heat of fusion, from DSC measurements, for PP and functionalized PP samples were
used to estimate the percentage of crystallinity (Xc). This was done by using the value for enthalpy of fusion of
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
01 2 3 4 5
Carbonyl Index (CI)
Phr of AAm

A. R. Oromiehie et al.
48
Figure 4. Carbonyl Index of PP-g-IA.
Figure 5. Contact angle results of PP-g-AAm.
Figure 6. Contact angle results of PP-g-IA.
Table 1. Thermal analysis of PP-g-AAm.
Monomer (phr) Tm (˚C) ∆Hf (mcal/mg) Tc (˚C) Tm (˚C)
0 168.97 22.57 121.99 45.14
1 166.75 16.52 124 33
2 165.85 17.48 125.56 34.96
3 165.89 16.42 125.18 32.84
4 164.55 16.66 123.3 33.32

A. R. Oromiehie et al.
49
Figure 7. DSC crystalline temperature of PP-g-AAm.
100% crystalline pp that is 50 cal/g. The heat of fusion is directly proportional to the amount of crystalline PP in
sample. It decreases linearly with an increase in functionalizing percentage, Table 1. An apparent decrease in heat
of fusion was due to the decrease in weight fraction of crystalline PP in copolymer due to an incorporation of AAm.
A similar trend was observed by Sath.et al. [28] it was observed that the crystallization temperature (Tc) of func-
tionalized samples was higher than for PP. The observed increase in crystallization temperature can be attributed
to the AAm acting as nucleating agent, and also because of the connection of the carbonyl group to PP [26]-[28]. It
can be shown in Table 1 that by increasing the percent of monomer to 3 phr. the percentage of crystallinity is
decreased, but it slightly increased by more addition of acrylamide monomers. It may be due to AAm homopo-
lymerization [24].
The DSC curves and thermal behavior of PP-g-IA are given in Figure 8 and Table 2. It was found that the
functionalizing process did not affect the melting temperature of PP-g-IA samples as it was with PP-g-AAm
samples. But it was noted that the percentage of crystallinity reduced by adding 1phr portion of IA monomer but it
slightly increases by increasing the percentage of IA monomer. As the heat of fusion is directly proportional to the
amount of crystalline PP in the sample, it decreases linearly with an increase in grafting percentage. An apparent
decrease in heat of fusion was due to the decrease in weight fraction of crystalline PP in copolymer due to an
incorporation of IA that it might be due to IA homopolymerization [24]. In comparison the functionality, polarity
and crystal linty behavior of PP-g-AAm and PP-g-IA, it was observed that there were some differences between
these copolymers especially when the portions of monomers were increased.
4. Conclusion
Polypropylene was functionalized with different ratios of acrylamide and itaconic acid in the presence of DCP in
optimum processing conditions by melts mixing. The effect of the modified polymer content and the properties
of functionalized PP were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, contact angle measurement and DSC. It was
concluded that the degree of functionalized PP depends on the concentration of both monomers (AAm and IA).
It was found that the monomer content from 1 to 3 phr had satisfied results, but in higher amount of monomers
the functionality was decreased. This is due to homopolymerization of monomers during processing and owing
to the nucleating effect of monomers in PP as well. FT-IR results confirmed that the AAm or IA was grafted
onto molecular chains of PP. The intensity of the carbonyl and carboxyl polar groups confirmed the enhance-
ment of functionality. The contact angle of distill water on the surface films of functionalized PP decreases
when the modified polymer content increases. This is due to increasing in degree of polarity of copolymers, also
confirmed the improvement of functionality. The functionalization of AAm and IA onto PP do not change melt-
ing temperature and increase the crystallization temperature of polymer in both PP-g-AAm and PP-g-IA copo-
lymers. Moreover, increasing in crystalline temperature could be attributed to monomer molecule acting as nuc-
leating agent in PP and also because of the connection of the carbonyl group to PP. But the decreasing in the
crystalline percentage may be due to homopolymerization of the AAm and IA monomers.

A. R. Oromiehie et al.
50
Figure 8. DSC thermogram of PP-g-IA.
Table 2. Thermal analysis of PP-g-IA.
Monomer (phr) Tm (˚C) ∆Hf (mcal/mg) Tc (˚C) Tm (˚C)
0 168.97 22.57 121.99 45.14
1 165.96 19.37 123.14 38.74
2 166 20 117 40
3 164.89 17 116 34
4 166.46 18.46 119.2 36.92
Acknowledgement
Thanks to the members of Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute for their help and assistance.
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