Characterization and modification of commercial acrylic fibers grafted with acrylic acid

Abstract

AbstractThe graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) onto commercial acrylic fibers (PAN) has been studied using Azobis(isobutyro)nitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. AA grafting initiated by radicals formed from thermal decomposition of AIBN. In this study, the effects of monomer and initiator concentration, time and temperature reaction on the grafting yield have been investigated. The optimum conditions for this grafting reaction were obtained with an AA concentration of 1.67 M, an AIBN concentration of 0.0097 M, a reaction temperature of T=85 °C and with reaction time of 60 minutes.The fiber structure has been investigated by different experimental techniques of characterization such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water absorption and also in this study has been investigated the mechanical property. The thermal analysis data showed that increasing in grafting yield, decreases the thermal stability of fiber. Grafting also affected slightly the fiber morphology. The experimental data of mechanical properties show clearly that by increasing of grafting yield, max extension will decrease. Grafting of poly AA improved water absorption.