Mechanochemical modification of polyethylene by vinyltrialkoxysilanes

The mechanochemical functionalization of a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) by grafting vinyltrimethoxysilane and vinyltriethoxysilane (3-5%) was investigated in the temperature range 80-160°C using a Berstorff twin-screw extruder and a Brabender mixer. Based on the functionalized PE, a crosslinked polymer was prepared by treatment with hot water through the hydrolysis of grafted alkoxysilane groups, followed by condensation of silanol groups formed as a result of hydrolysis. A method of mechanochemical modification of PE by vinyltrialkoxysilanes was proposed which allows one to produce functionalized PE with a high degree of grafting (to 98%) containing up to 75% of the crosslinked fraction after hydrolysis.