Fibrous Structure and Properties of Cotton-Poly(Butyl Methacrylate) Copolymers Prepared by Post-Irradiation Initiated Reactions

Abstract

Graft copolymerization reactions of butyl methacrylate from aqueous methanol solutions with radiation-activated cotton cellulose fibers and fabrics were investigated. The effects of the initial concentration of long-lived free radicals (formed on the cellulose molecule at different radiation dosages) on the rate and extent of copolymerization of butyl methacrylate, with radiation-activated cellulose, and on the distribution of poly(butyl methacrylate) in the fibrous structure were determined. Copolymerization with cotton, containing the lowest initial concentration of free radicals of about one free radical per five to six cellulose molecules, gave a fibrous cotton copolymer which tended to have a layered structure. As the initial concentration of free radicals in cotton was increased, a fibrous copolymer with a higher degree of compactness of structure was obtained. The textile properties of fabric copolymers, which were crosslinked with dimeth yloldihydroxyethyteneurea, were determined.