Tributylborane in the synthesis of graft-copolymers of gelatin and acrylamide

Abstract

Tributylborane in different concentrations was used for synthesis of gelatin and polyacrylamide graft-copolymer. The copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy method (FTIR). The share of the graft polyacrylamide and the molecular weight of the copolymer increases with the alkylborane concentration growth. The polymers under study exhibit a single phase transformation caused by devitrification. Also, the glass transition temperature depends on tributylborane concentration and differs from that the initial homopolymers. It is supposed, that the grafting process occures through the mechanism of reversible inhibition due to active centers formed as a result of gelatin hydroxyl groups borylation. The excess of tributylborane may result the formation of additional radicals source: alkylborane – oxygen system.