GRAFT-COPOLYMERIZATION OF GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE ONTO COTTON CELLULOSE

Glycidyl methacrylate was graft-copolymerized onto cotton cellulose using both photo- and chemical-initiation techniques using different initiators. The photoinitiators used were uranyl nitrate, ceric ammonium nitrate, and benzoin ethyl ether, whereas the chemical initiators used were ceric ammonium nitrate and potassium persulfate. Optimization of various parameters of grafting, viz., time, temperature, initiator, and monomer concentrations, was carried out. Ceric ammonium nitrate gave the maximum and almost identical values of graft add-on, by both grafting techniques, at equivalent concentration of the monomer. Use of optimized conditions of ceric ammonium nitrate-photoinitiated grafting for sodium hydroxide-swollen substrate as well as for grafting baths incorporating acids enhanced the graft level. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.