Chapter 10 - Grafted natural polymers: synthesis and structure–property relationships

Abstract

Natural polymers are available in large quantities at low cost. Their properties are even better than those of commodity plastics. Biopolymers have great potential and several advantages but possess drawbacks as well. To utilize their potential and penetrate new markets, the performance of natural polymers must be improved considerably. Consequently, modifying these materials is a focus of scientific research. Grafting is one of the most promising techniques for modifying the properties of naturally available polymers with minimal loss of their native characteristics. Surface modification by grafting is intended to improve the wettability, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties of a surface polymer. The properties of the grafted product can be suitably modulated in terms of percentage grafting. Grafted natural polymers have various applications in a variety of important scientific areas, such as drug delivery, pharmaceuticals, plastics, wastewater treatment, tannery effluent treatment, textiles, and agriculture. Many researchers have carried out grafting onto natural polymer backbones using various vinyl monomers, a wide range of initiators, oxidizing agents, monomers, and binary vinyl monomeric mixtures, and radiation techniques and have achieved productive results. The end product macromolecules are tailored at the molecular level for desired applications. This chapter provides in-depth information about grafting, grafting methods, surface modification, graft copolymerization of natural polymers, and the structure–property relationship.