Synthesis of tragacanth gum-based programmable adhesive for wood binding applications

Abstract

Synthesis of graft copolymer [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (MAETMAC) grafted gum tragacanth was performed using the microwave-assisted technique using potassium persulfate (KPS) as a free radical initiator. The synthesized grades were optimized by varying the monomer and the initiator concentration. The intended grafting was ascertained through standard physico-chemical characterizations. The synthesized graft copolymer was studied as a water-soluble adhesive for fabrication of single lap joint. The failure shear stress of lap joint was obtained using the Universal Testing Machine (UTM). Further, the self-separation study of the lap joints was carried out by soaking the lap-joint under water until they got self-separated. The failure shear stress and self-separation time of the adhesive in water were compared with three commercial adhesives available. The properties “self separation time” in water and “failure shear stress” were programmable at the molecular level (molecular level programming) in terms of percentage grafting.