Solvents effect in horseradish peroxidase catalyzed modification of UHMWPE fiber

Abstract

Graft copolymerization of acrylamide onto ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) using horseradish peroxidase as catalyst was performed in different reaction solution to study the solvent effect. The factors affecting the grafting effect such as the solvents composition, initiator, reaction temperature, and reaction time were investigated. The grafted UHMWPE fiber surface was characterized by IR spectrum, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, contact angle measurement, and single fiber pull out test. Polar groups such as CO and NH2 are approved to appear on the surface after treatment. The contact angle with water decreased from 85 to 50, indicating the wettability of the fiber has been increased. The surface of the grafted fiber became rougher and its adhesion to resin increased significantly, and hence is expected to produce reinforced plastics with resin. It was also found that the grafting effect was higher in dioxane than in other solvents used and the initiator substituted by electron donating group facilitates the grafting reaction. And the optimum reaction condition was determined to be reacting in 40% (v/v) dioxane solution at 30°C for 2 h. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 674–678, 2006