Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) onto Agave americana Fibers and Evaluation of their Physicochemical Properties

Abstract

In the present article graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto Agave americana fiber has been carried out in air in the presence of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as redox initiator. The various reaction parameters such as reaction time, temperature, and concentration of initiator, nitric acid, and monomer were optimized to get the maximum graft yield (43.5%). The graft copolymers thus synthesized were evaluated for their physicochemical properties such as swelling behavior in different solvents, water uptake behavior, moisture absorbance at different humidity levels, and resistance to chemicals. The graft copolymers were subsequently characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal analysis (TGA/DTA).