Preparation and properties of polymerizable 1,8-naphthalimide fluorescent dye grafted linear low-density polyethylene

Light converting greenhouse films are novel plastic films for agriculture. In this study, 4-methoxy-N-allyl-1,8-naphthalimide (MOANI) was grafted onto linear low-density polyethylenes (LLDPE-g-MOANI) by melt reactive mixing. The effects of monomer concentration, chamber temperature, and reaction time on grafting degree were systematically studied. Evidence of the grafting reaction was determined by 1 HNMR, FTIR, UV–Vis, and fluorescence spectrometry. Dynamic rheological properties, isothermal crystallization kinetics, surface morphologies of LLDPE, LLDPE-g-MOANI, and blends of LLDPE and MOANI (LLDPE/MOANI) were also analyzed. In addition, mechanical and fluorescent properties of unpurified LLDPE-g-MOANI films were further studied after the UV condensation weathering and acceleration migration test, respectively. We demonstrated that the cross-linking of LLDPE could be inhibited effectively by the graft of MOANI; the grafted MOANI acted as a nucleation agent to accelerate crystallization; the grafted MOANI effectively inhibited the aging process of LLDPE and the migration of free MOANI to the surface of the unpurified LLDPE-g-MOANI film. The modified LLDPE showed the potential application in long-term light converting films. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132 , 42172.