Radiation-induced copolymerization of vinyl acetate with vinylidene chloride on synthetic fibres in a precipitating agent

Abstract

The synthesis of graft copolymers on polymeric materials is frequently complicated by the formation of homopolymers or copolymers (when a mixture of monomers is used) which are regarded as side products, and which impede the investigation of processes of graft polymerization and impair the efficiency of the latter. The importance of studies of the synthesis of these grafted and nongrafted copolymers on fibre surfaces is related to the problem of using this method as a means of preparing combined fibres in which the nature and fibre structure is not the same in volume as on the surface [1]. The formation of grafted copolymer in the surface layers of combined fibres will ensure good adhesion to the outer layer of the nongrafted homopolymer or copolymer. The properties of the fibres are determined 1) by the composition of the copolymer in the outer layer; 2) by the ratio of grafted to nongrafted copolymer, and 3) by the structure of the fibres in volume, the preservation of which is proportional to the shortness of copolymerization time and the mildness of the reaction conditions.