Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto wool fibers

Abstract

Wool graft copolymers were synthesized by the use of water-methyl methacrylate surfactant system in the absence of initiator. The results obtained are as follows: (1) The third components such as non-ionic, anionic and cationic agents have remarkable effect upon the weight increase of wool, graft efficiency, and average degree of polymerization of isolated polymer. The amount of grafted polymer decreases in the order non-ionic> anionic ≫ cationic. Generally, graft efficiency increases with increase in the amount of grafted polymer. Average degree of polymerization of isolated polymer depends on the type of surfactant, but not on the concentration of surfactant at a given temperature. (2) In the case of polymerization using non-ionic surfactant, weight increase of wool depends upon the amounts of the emulsifier solution and of monomer, but not on the amount of wool. However, graft efficiency depends on the amount of wool. Average degree of polymerization of isolated polymer does not depend on the amounts of the emulsifier solution, monomer and wool. In the presence of wool fibers, degree of polymerization of isolated polymer is lower than that of polymer obtained by thermal polymerization. As for the grafting mechanism, it is supposed that chain transfer reaction of polymer radical to wool molecules occurs in the amorphous region of wool fibers. © 1972, The Society of Fiber Science and Technology, Japan. All rights reserved.