Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low molecular weight polyethylene (LMPE) were modified by using four poly(ethylene glycol) acrylic monomers:poly(ethylene glycol) acrylate (PAA)

poly-(ethylene glycol) ether acrylate (PEA)

poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PMEM).Grafted LLDPEs were prepared in a plasticorder at 190 ℃ in the air by varying the feeding amount of monomers (2 wt%~8 wt%).The effects of acrylic monomers with polyoxyethylene groups on graft copolymers were studied systematically

the structures of graft copolymers were analyzed by 1H-NMR and IR.The grafting reactions were all first order in monomer concentration.The grafting efficiency (%) of the four monomers followed the order of PAA PEA PMA PMEM.The rheological properties of grafted LLDPE showed the complex viscosity and the shear-thinning behavior increased significantly with the graft of monomers.The crystallization study indicated that the graft chains at lower concentrations accelerated the crystallization

and the graft chains at higher concentrations restrained the crystallizations.Grafted LMPEs were prepared by the solution grafting method.The crystallization observations of grafted LMPE by a Leica optical microscope also approved that graft monomers played the role of nucleation agent.The contact angle results showed that LMPEs with higher graft degree have more hydrophilicity than LLDPE.