Graft polymerization of methacrylamide onto wild silk fibers treated with an alkaline solution

Abstract

Graft polymerization of methacrylamide was made on wild silk fibers (Chinese tussah silk fibers) and Indian muga silk fibers, and the level of polymer add-on was investigated. The polymer add-ons for these wild silk fibers were not as large as those obtained with commercial mulberry silk fibers. However, the level of polymer add-on for these wild silk fibers was increased by swelling treatment with a sodium hydroxide aqueous solution prior to the graft treatment.