Graft copolymerization of vinylpyridines onto cellulosic fibres by the ceric ion method. The monomer concentration effect

Abstract

AbstractThe effect of monomer concentration on the graft polymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine (4‐VP) and of 2‐vinylpyridine (2‐VP) on cellulose and on partially carboxymethylated cellulose (PCMC) initiated by cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN) in dilute nitric acid has been examinated. The grafting parameters: grafting efficiency (GE), graft yield (G), graft frequency (GF), and ceric ion consumption ((Ceiv)c)were studied as a function of the monomer concentration. The fraction of poly(4‐vinylpyridine), P(4‐VP), in the graft polymer increased with increasing monomer concentration for both cellulosic substrates. The molecular weight of the grafted P(4‐VP) was obtained viscosimetrically after hydrolyzing away the cellulose backbone. When 2‐VP was grafted on PCMC and on unmodified cotton, the graft yields also increased with monomer concentration, but they were much smaller than in the previous case. Presence of carboxymethyl groups in cellulose enhanced G, GE, Mv, and GF.