Grafting of cellulose and carboxymethylated cellulose with methyl methacrylate and the dielectric properties of the products

Abstract

The effect of partial carboxymethylation with various degrees of substitution (DS) on the grafting of cellulose has been studied. The infrared (IR) spectra of these treated wood pulps is investigated. Grafting of wood pulp with methyl methacrylate increases the CO band intensity at 1715–1725 cm −1 while the OH band intensity at 3350 cm −1 decreases as well as carboxymethylation. The crystallinity index (Cr I) is decreased by carboxymethylation but increased by grafting. A new band at 1250 cm −1 is observed in grafted wood pulp which is increased on increasing the graft yield. The dielectric properties of the carboxymethylated samples are affected but decreased by the grafting process. The dielectric properties are decreased by drying at 105°C.