Synthesis and characterization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) grafted eucalyptus fibers

Abstract

Graft-copolymerization of bleached kraft eucalyptus fibers was carried out with glycidyl methacrylate monomer by using Fe 2+ -thiourea dioxide-H 2 O 2 as an initiator system. The cellulose-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) graft copolymers (CPGMA) were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), 13 C cross polarization magic angle spinning NMR spectra ( 13 C CP/MAS NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Results showed the grafting percent was from 0 to 244%, the epoxy group content from 0 to 4.37 mmol/g, and the grafting efficiency over 97%, when the grafting percent exceeded 38%. Additionally, the morphological analysis denoted that the grafting not only took place on the fiber surface, but also inside the fiber wall. Both FTIR and solid state 13 C CP/MAS NMR analysis identified the occurrence of grafting. Fiber crystallinity was strongly affected by the percent grafting, decreasing from 69.8% (eucalyptus pulp) to 26.2% at the percent grafting of 198%. TGA analytical data indicated that GMA grafting resulted in the reduction of thermal stability of eucalyptus fibers at the percent grafting of 198%.