Characterization and mechanical properties of cellulose-graft-polyacrylonitrile prepared by using KMnO4/different acids as redox system

Abstract

Cellulose-graft-polyacrylonitriles were prepared by using KMnO4/different acids redox system and the obtained samples were characterized by POM, SEM, 13C-NMR, XRD, TGA and their mechanical properties were investigated as a function of crystallinity degree (Cr %). In all cases, Cr decreased with increase of graft yield irrespective of acids species. Stress at break, strain at break and Young's modulus decreased with decreasing Cr %, which can be attributed to the increase of the amorphous region and the main chain rapture of cellulose. The mechanical properties of the samples prepared by strong acids became more poor than those for samples prepared by weak acids, indicating that more chain rupture occurred when strong acids are used. © 2010 The Society of Rheology, Japan.