GRAFT POLYMERIZATION OF VINYL MONOMERS ONTO VARIOUS FIBERS AND CLOTHS IN ABSENCE OF INITIATORS

Abstract

Graft polymerization of MMA onto cotton fiber and cloth have been carried out in emulsion and aqueous solution in the absence of an initiator.(1) Relationships among the yield of total polymer, weight increase of cotton fiber, yield of graft polymer and graft efficiency, and kind and concentration of emulsifiers have been studied.It has been found that those relationships vary with the changes of concentration and the kind of emulsifier, and that the presence of emulsifiers has a good effect on grafting. Generally the use of non-ionic surfactants is more effective than that of anionic ones. Addition of anionic surfactant to the non-ionic one reduces the effectiveness.(2) Relationship between the weight increase of cotton (fiber and cloth) and the conditions of polymerization has been studied. The polymerizations have been performed in aqueous solution and emulsion (Neugen YX-500 as emulsifier) in a sealed tube. The weight increase of cotton fiber and cloth graft-polymerized in emulsion is generally greater than that in aqueous solution. Particularlly, the weight increase is affected by the concentration of emulsifier.(3) Physical properties of grafted cotton fiber and cloth have been also observed the properties vary with the increase of weight. It has been found that, when the polymerization conditions (polymerization medium, quantity of cotton, and quantity and kind of emulsifier) are varied, some of properties of grafted cotton fiber become different.