Graft Polymerization Of Glycidyl Methacrylate Research Articles

Emulsion graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate onto bamboo fiber composites for efficient removal of lead ions from aqueous solutions

The emulsion graft polymerization process was used to synthesize a novel polyglycidyl methacrylate grafted silanized bamboo fiber composites. The grafting percentage was assessed by varying surfactant, initiator and monomer concentrations. The surface morphologies and thermal behavior of the biocomposites were analyzed using FTIR, SEM, XRD and TGA techniques. In batch adsorption studies, the effect of adsorption parameters like pH, adsorption time, adsorbent dose and solution temperature were examined on the adsorption efficiency of lead ions. The adsorption capacity of biosorbent composites was enhanced through conversion of epoxy group of Poly glycidyl methacrylate (PGMA) into sulfonic acid groups via sulfonation process. The sulfonic acid groups were incorporated into VMBF-g-PGMA by stirring the grafted sample in H2SO4 (98 %) for 2 h at 90 °C to obtain sulfonated grafted polymer (VMBF-g-PGMA-S). By increasing the concentration of monomers up to 5 %, the maximum grafting percentage (289 %) was achieved. The grafting % increases rapidly from 0.5 to 0.20 g initiator and at 0.20 g of initiator, the highest grafting yield was 512 %. The maximum Pb+2 adsorption capacity of adsorbent was 200 mg/g. The thermodynamic parameters for pb+2 adsorption revealed an exothermic and spontaneous nature of sorption process, and the entropy change showed that there are no substantial structural changes occurred in biosorbent material. The experimental results confirmed that sulfonated biosorbent composites are effective, economical, and promising adsorbent which could be used for removal of lead and other ions from aqueous solution.

Synthesis and Study of Free Radical Graft Polymerization of Glycidyl Methacrylate on Gamma-Irradiated Graphene Oxide

This study reports on the synthesis of a novel poly (glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) grafted graphene oxide (GO) by using a free radical-induced emulsion graft polymerization method. PGMA was grafted onto a gamma irradiated and vinyl functionalized GO substrate, and the parameters of graft polymerization (i.e., the concentration of monomer, initiator, and surfactant) were optimized to achieve the maximum grafting percentage. Remarkably, a PGMA grafting percentage of up to 2626% was obtained under the optimal reaction conditions. The developed materials were characterized by different characterization techniques including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The presence of characteristic peaks of PGMA in FTIR spectra and changes in morphology of GO sheets after the grafting process confirmed the successful PGMA grafting onto GO. The thermal stability of the grafted samples was also significantly enhanced and increased with an increase in grafting percentage. This work discloses the tailoring of the properties of nanohybrid material obtained by free radical-induced emulsion graft polymerization. The prepared PGMA grafted GO nanohybrids can be further modified to develop adsorbents for metal uptake.

Design and characterization of phosphonic acid-functionalized grafted sepiolite nanohybrids and their adsorption studies for removal of copper ions from aqueous solution.

In this study, we synthesized novel, economically efficient phosphonic acid-functionalized grafted sepiolite nanohybrids for selective elimination of copper ions from water. These nanohybrids were prepared by graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate onto sepiolite. We utilized free radical graft polymerization to graft glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto silanized sepiolite. The nanohybrids obtained exhibited a grafting percentage of 479% at 0.3 g of KPS initiator, 15% GMA monomer, and after 4 h of reaction. In pursuit of selectively removing metal ions from water, the nanohybrid with the highest grafting (PGE3) was chemically treated with phosphoric acid to introduce phosphonic acid groups on it. FTIR, XRD, SEM, CHO analysis, BET, and TGA analysis were utilized to characterize the developed nanohybrids. Batch adsorption studies were carried out using AAS process, examining the impact of pH, adsorbent weight, contact time, adsorbate concentration, and temperature on the adsorption process. Due to the selectivity of phosphonic acid groups towards copper ions, phosphonic acid-functionalized grafted sepiolite nanohybrid (PGE3-P) was used for copper ions removal from its aqueous solution. The maximum adsorption capacity of PGE3-P adsorbents was 134.5 mg/g for copper ions. The data from kinetic studies suggests that the adsorption process of copper ions followed a pseudosecond-order model. Furthermore, Langmuir isotherm proved to be a more fitting model in equilibrium isothermal investigations. The thermodynamic analysis of the data indicates that the adsorption of copper ions by PGE3-P is an endothermic and spontaneous process. The development of this phosphonic acid-functionalized grafted sepiolite nanohybrid adsorbent is a new contribution into the field of adsorption. The developed material can be utilized as selective adsorbent for elimination of other heavy metals from water.

Activation of inert polyethylene/polypropylene nonwoven fiber (NWF) by plasma-initiated grafting and amine functionalization of the grafts for Cu(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cd(II) and Pb(II) removal

In this study, the emulsion graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) by environmentally friendly plasma-induced technique onto nonwoven polyethylene-coated polypropylene (NWF) fiber and its functionalization with 4-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) were carried out as a novel adsorbent. The influence of plasma source, irradiation time and reaction parameters were studied by a systematic approach. For the grafting of GMA, the optimal plasma treatment conditions using Ar-plasma were found to be 0.2 mbar plasma pressure, 70-watt plasma power, and 120s plasma exposure time. Grafting reaction conditions onto plasma-treated NWF was 4% GMA concentration, 40 °C graft polymerization temperature, and 4 h grafting time. The PABA modification parameters of GMA-grafted NWF fiber have also been optimized for the first time by several solvents and kinetic studies. Epoxy ring in GMA-g-NWF structures (118 ±12% grafting degree) was opened and its modification with PABA was achieved and 81 ± 3% (2.15 mmol PABA/g polymer) conversion was obtained. The samples were characterized by FTIR, XPS, EDX, SEM, contact angle, and TGA techniques. The Cu(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cd(II) and Pb(II) removal experiments were carried out by ICP-MS in batch mode as a function of pH, contact time, initial concentration and regeneration. Between pH 2–8 range, NWF fabric adsorbent is effective at pH 5 for heavy metal removal. The maximum adsorption capacities (qmax) were determined from Langmuir isotherm as 35.08 mg Cu(II)/ g adsorbent, 31.15 mg Co(II)/g adsorbent, 34.24 mg Cr(III)/g adsorbent, 51.81 mg Cd(II)/g adsorbent and 63.36 mg Pb(II)/g adsorbent, respectively at an initial feed concentration of 100 ppm, demonstrating the promising potential of the NWF fiber-based adsorbent to steadily and efficiently adsorb these toxic metal ions. The experimental data of heavy metals followed pseudo-second-order kinetic and the Langmuir adsorption models. The adsorbent material could be easily regenerated at least five cycles with a 3% HNO3 solution.

Synergizing radiation-induced emulsion graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate on polyethylene-coated polypropylene nonwoven fabric by addition of hydrophobic alcohols

The radiation-induced emulsion graft polymerization method is limited for applying concentrations higher than the monomer concentration that enables stable formation of monomer micelles. Furthermore, foaming may occur because of the presence of the surfactant, which is essential for the formation of micelles, resulting in likely splashing around a highly flammable monomer emulsion. In the present study, to overcome these issues, we investigate the effect of added alcohols on the grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in emulsion graft polymerization. By adding hydrophobic alcohols to the GMA monomer emulsion of the given system, we succeeded in increasing polymerization rate at low monomer concentrations and developing a highly safe method of emulsion graft polymerization. By adding 0.5 wt% of hydrophobic alcohol such as 1-octanol to the GMA monomer emulsion, the degree of grafting was 4 times higher than in the case without addition. In addition, we successfully reduced the foamability of the GMA monomer emulsion deriving from the surfactant. This is a novel graft polymerization method with promising wide industrial application, as it brings improvements for the existing issues of the conventional emulsion graft polymerization method — (1) emulsion stability under low concentration monomer and (2) process stability due to foaming of the monomer emulsion during polymerization.

Characterization of phosphorylated natural rubber as thorium bio-adsorbent prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization

Bio-adsorbent modified natural rubber (NR) was prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto NR seed particle in a latex form using gamma irradiation at a dose of 5–100 kGy followed by subsequent chemical modification with phosphoric acid by ring-opening of epoxy. The adsorbent was characterized with Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR- FTIR), 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1HNMR), Thermogravimetry Analyzer (TGA), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM-EDX). In addition, the effect of volume ratio GMA-emulsion to latex at different radiation doses during grafting polymerization was studied in order to attain optimal grafting condition. The goal of this research is to produce a material capable of removing Th4+ ion from aqueous solutions. The effects of the initial concentration on adsorption capacity was presented. This study introduces a new step in the modification as an added value to the NR in Th4+ removal application.

Chelating Fabrics Prepared by an Organic Solvent-Free Process for Boron Removal from Water.

A chelating fabric was prepared by graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto a nonwoven fabric, followed by attachment reaction of N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG) using an organic solvent-free process. The graft polymerization was performed by immersing the gamma-ray pre-irradiated fabric into the GMA emulsion, while the attachment reaction was carried out by immersing the grafted fabric in the NMDG aqueous solution. The chelating capacity of the chelating fabric prepared by reaction in the NMDG aqueous solution without any additives reached 1.74 mmol/g, which further increased to above 2.0 mmol/g when surfactant and acid catalyst were added in the solution. The boron chelation of the chelating fabric was evaluated in a batch mode. Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) was used to characterize the fabrics. The chelating fabric can quickly chelate boron from water to form a boron ester, and a high boron chelating ability close to 18.3 mg/g was achieved in the concentrated boron solution. The chelated boron can be eluted completely by HCl solution. The regeneration and stability of the chelating fabric were tested by 10 cycles of the chelation-elution operations. Considering the organic solvent-free preparation process and the high boron chelating performance, the chelating fabric is promising for the boron removal from water.

Radiation induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate onto sepiolite

Radiation induced graft polymerization (RIGP) was used to develop glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) grafted nanohybrid polymer. The absorbed dose and monomer concentration significantly affect the degree of grafting on vinyl modified sepiolite (VMS). Maximum grafting of 665% was achieved at optimized absorbed dose and monomer concentration. Post-polymerization modification of the nanohybrid with maximum grafting was carried out with sodium sulfite. Structural studies by ATR-FTIR and XRD analysis of the synthesized nanohybrids confirmed modification at different stages. The morphological changes studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed the conversion of sepiolite fiber into globular structure. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed an increase in thermal stability of the GMA grafted nanohybrid with the increase in grafting yield. The sulfonated form of the nanohybrid showed highest adsorption for Cu(II) at 4 pH value which indicates its potential as metal ion adsorbent for the recovery of metals from wastewater.

Efficient Adsorption Performance of Lithium Ion onto Cellulose Microspheres with Sulfonic Acid Groups

The separation of Li+ from an aqueous solution has received much attention in recent years because of its wide application in batteries and nuclear energy. A cellulose microsphere adsorbent with sulfonic acid groups (named as CGS) was successfully prepared by the pre-irradiation-induced emulsion graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate onto cellulose microspheres through subsequent sulfonation and protonation. The adsorption performance of Li+ onto the CGS adsorbent is investigated in detail. The as-prepared CGS adsorbent exhibited fast adsorption kinetics and a high adsorption capacity of Li+ (16.0 mg/g) in a wide pH range from 4 to 10. The existence of K+ and Na+ was found to have the ability to affect the adsorption capacity of Li+ due to the cation-exchange adsorption mechanism, which was further confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The column adsorption experiment indicated that the adsorption capacity of CGS agreed well with the batch adsorption, and a fast desorption could be obtained in 10 min. It is expected that CGS has potential usage in the adsorption separation of Li+ from an aqueous solution.

In-situ formation of durable akaganeite (β-FeOOH) nanorods on sulfonate-modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabric for dual-functional wastewater treatment

Industrial oily wastewater with dye-pollution is a critical environmental issue for water purification. However, the fabrication of effective and stable materials for oil-water separation and simultaneous degradation of organic contaminants remains a critical challenge. Herein, we report a new process for in-situ formation of akaganeite (β-FeOOH) nanorods layer on the surface of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabric via radiation-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate, which is then sulfonated and mineralized. The resultant product is labeled as β-FeOOH@PET, which exhibits dual purification by demonstrating an effective oil-water separation and organic dyes photodegradation under the illumination of visible light. It provides stable performance even after 1000 wash cycles. The sulfonated layer acts as not only an electronic transport layer to prevent electron-hole recombination, but also as an anchored interface for immobilizing β-FeOOH nanorods on the sulfonated layer via strong covalent bonds. Overall, the superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity of β-FeOOH@PET fabric, along with its robustness with a flexible organic substrate and its dual purification function, provide a new insight toward oily wastewater remediation and water purification in large-scale applications.

Novel cotton fabric adsorbent for efficient As(V) adsorption.

A novel amine functionalized nonwoven cotton fabric (EDA-GMA-g-NCF) adsorbent material for As(V) adsorption was prepared by using plasma-initiated graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto nonwoven cotton fabric (NCF) and then its modification with ethylenediamine (EDA). The resultant nonwoven cotton fabric adsorbent was examined by using FT-IR, SEM, and XPS techniques. As(V) adsorption experiments were performed in batch mode as a function of pH, contact time, initial concentration, coexisting ions, ionic strength, and tap water applications. Ethylenediamine carrying nonwoven cotton fabric-based functional adsorbent showed efficient, rapid As(V) removal with high adsorption capacity. The experimental data shows that adsorption mechanism fits to the Langmuir isotherm, and adsorption kinetic follows a pseudo-second-order model. Between pH 2-8 range, nonwoven cotton fabric adsorbent is effective at pH 3 for As(V) adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity of the nonwoven cotton fabric for As(V) was 217.39mg/g. The adsorbent could be easily regenerated at least ten cycles with 3% HNO3 solution. EDA-GMA-g-NCF was also efficient for tap water applications with high percent As(V) removal. Thermodynamic parameters show that the As(V) adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. Graphical abstract Preparation of cotton fabric adsorbent and As(V) treatment process.

Highly Durable and Robust Superhydrophobic/Superoleophilic Cotton Fabric with Well-designed Roughness for Oil/Water Separation

Herein we report a simple and reproducible method for fabricating highly durable and robust superhydrophobic and superoleophilic cotton fabrics via simultaneous radiation-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate and subsequent chemical modifications with aminopropyltriethoxysilane and hexamethyldisilazane. The chemical structure and the surface topography of the pristine and the modified cotton fabrics were investigated in detail by ATR-FTIR, XPS, and 29Si NMR, and a grafting layer was successfully immobilized onto the surface of the cotton fabric by forming covalent bonds. Multi-dimensional surface roughness was created by combining micro-sized fibers of the cotton fabric, nanoscaled protuberances of the grafting chain, and molecular level spherical projection points of silicon methyl. The superhydrophobic cotton fabric exhibited long-term stability, ultra-high durability and robustness, and maintained its properties even after 25 wash cycles. The fabric also showed excellent water repellency with a water contact angle of 153 ° and a high efficiency of oil/water separation (98 %). The superhydrophobic/superoleophilic cotton fabric developed in the present work exhibits important potential applications in superhydrophobic textiles and oil/water separation.

Preparation and characterization of ethylenediamine modified glycidyl methacrylate-grafted nonwoven cotton fabric adsorbent

In this study, plasma-initiated graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto nonwoven cotton fabric (NCF) and its modification with ethylenediamine (EDA) was performed. To determine the optimum conditions for plasma treatment, a comprehensive analysis of different parameters such as plasma power, applied pressure, applied plasma gas, and exposure time were conducted using both air- and Ar-plasma. The concentration of radicals generated on the NCF surface after plasma treatment was examined using ESR spectroscopy. The effects of plasma pretreatment conditions, namely GMA concentration, grafting temperature, and grafting time were investigated. Plasma treated NCF has been grafted with GMA (GMA-g-NCF) was functionalized with ethylenediamine (EDA-GMA-g-NCF) to develop an efficient arsenic adsorbent. NCF, GMA-g-NCF and EDA-GMA-g-NCF samples were characterized by using FTIR, SEM, EDX, XPS, elemental analysis, TGA, and contact angle.

RAFT‐mediated graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate in emulsion from polyethylene/polypropylene initiated with γ‐radiation

ABSTRACTThe successful reversible addition‐fragmentation (RAFT)‐mediated graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in emulsion phase from polyethylene/polypropylene nonwoven fabric using 4‐cyano‐4‐[(phenylcarbonothioyl)thio]pentanoic acid under γ‐irradiation at ambient condition is reported. While conventional graft polymerization in emulsion phase yielded grafted materials with low of grafting (Dg) values [<7.5% at 10% (wt/wt) GMA], addition of RAFT agent to the graft polymerization system allowed the synthesis of polyethylene/polypropylene‐g‐poly(GMA) with more tunable Dg (8% ≤ Dg ≤ 94%) by controlling the grafting parameters. Relatively good control (PDI ∼1.2 for selected grafting conditions) during polymerization was attained at 100:1 monomer‐to‐RAFT agent molar ratio. The number average molecular weight of free poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) increased as a function of monomer conversion. NMR analyses of the free PGMA homopolymers indicate the presence of dithiobenzoate group from 4‐cyano‐4‐((phenylcarbonothioyl)thio) pentanoic acid on the polymer chain. The reactive pendant oxirane group of the grafted GMA can be modified for various environmental and industrial applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45270.

Effects of chain transfer agent on the electron beam-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate in emulsion phase

The graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate from irradiated polyethylene/polypropylene (PE/PP) in the presence of the chain transfer agent 4-cyano-4-((phenylcarbonothioyl)thio) pentanoic acid (CPPA) was studied at 40 °C using pre-irradiation grafting technique. Free radical active sites on polyethylene/polypropylene were formed by electron beam irradiation in nitrogen atmosphere and dry ice temperature. Compared to the conventional grafting method, addition of the chain transfer agent resulted in lower amount of grafted poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) on the PE/PP trunk polymer. The calculated degree of grafting increased with increment in absorbed dose and reaction time but decreased with increasing glycidyl methacrylate concentration, at fixed monomer to CPPA ratio, and amount of CPPA. An apparent first-order dependence of conversion on monomer concentration was observed. The free poly(glycidyl methacrylate) that was formed in the polymerization mixture during grafting in the presence of CPPA had Mn which increased with reaction time and polydispersity index (PDI) values less than 2. NMR analysis of the PGMA homopolymer indicates the presence of dithiobenzoate group from CPPA at one end of the polymer chain. The pristine and grafted trunk polymers were characterized with FTIR, TGA, and SEM-EDX.

Synthesis of a Selective Scavenger for Ag(I), Pd(II), and Au(III) Based on Cellulose Filter Paper Grafted with Polymer Chains Bearing Thiocarbamate Moieties

A selective scavenger for precious metals, Cell-g-PHCTMA, was prepared by the modification of a cellulose filter paper through graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate and subsequent functionalization of the side chain with hydroxyethyl thiocarbamate moieties. Batch techniques were employed to determine the capacity and selectivity of Cell-g-PHCTMA for metal adsorption. Results indicated that it efficiently and selectively extracted Ag(I), Pd(II), and Au(III) from their aqueous solutions. Thus, Cell-g-PHCTMA shows great potential for its practical application in the collection of precious metals.

Application of full-factorial design in the synthesis of polypropylene-g-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) functional material for metal ion adsorption

The graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate onto electron beam pre-irradiated polypropylene (PP) nonwoven fabric was optimized using a 43 full factorial design analysis. The analysis yielded a polynomial equation that relates the linear, quadratic and interaction effects of the independent parameters to degree of grafting (Dg). The linear terms (i.e. absorbed dose, reaction time and monomer concentration), quadratic terms of time and concentration, and interaction term between absorbed dose and time were determined as significant independent parameters based from analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimum grafting time and absorbed dose to achieve 150% Dg at 5% monomer concentration were 3.5h and 39.8kGy, respectively. The pristine PP, polypropylene-g-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PP-g-PGMA) and functionalized grafted materials were characterized using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The affinities of the synthesized adsorbents towards the target metal ions at pH 4 were established to be in the following order: Cr(VI) >> Pb(II) ~ Cd(II) for the amine functionalized PP-g-PGMA; and Pb(II) > Cd(II) > Cr(VI) for the carboxylic acid functionalized PP-g-PGMA.

Surface modification of UHMWPE fibers by ozone treatment and UV grafting for adhesion improvement

ABSTRACTIn this study, the surface of ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers was modified by ozone pretreatment, followed by ultraviolet (UV) grafting, to enhance the interfacial properties of UHMWPE fibers/rubber composites. The fibers were first pretreated by ozone to introduce oxygen-functional groups. The graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto the ozone-treated fibers was implemented by UV irradiation. The effects of time and GMA concentration on the grafting efficiency were investigated. The modified fibers were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The XPS and FTIR results revealed that GMA was successfully grafted onto the fibers with epoxy groups. SEM images confirmed that a continuous layer of poly-(GMA) (PGMA) was grafted onto the fibers. The interfacial adhesion force of UHMWPE fibers with rubber matrix was characterized by H pullout testing, which showed that the maximum force the fibers/rubber composites increased by 79% over that of the untreated fibers.

Modification of microcrystalline cellulose by gamma radiation-induced grafting

Abstract Modified microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was prepared through gamma radiation-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). Simultaneous grafting was employed wherein MCC with GMA in methanol was irradiated with gamma radiation in nitrogen atmosphere. The effects of different experimental factors such as monomer concentration, type of solvent and absorbed dose on the degree of grafting, Dg, were studied. The amount of grafted GMA, expressed as Dg, was determined gravimetrically. Information from grafted samples subjected to Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mode showed peaks corresponding to GMA which indicates successful grafting. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the crystalline region of MCC was not adversely affected after grafting with GMA. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data showed that the decomposition of grafted MCC occurred at higher temperature compared to the base MCC polymer.

Pinewood Composite Prepared byIn SituGraft Polymerization of Epoxy Monomer

Composites were prepared by graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) into low-quality Brazilian pinewood. Oven-dried pinewood samples were impregnated with GMA (1.5 wt% of benzoyl peroxide as catalyst), polymerized by heat at 90°C for 10 h, and washed with acetone to leach the unreacted chemicals. The characterization was performed by treatability parameters, scanning electron microscopy images, ATR-IR spectroscopy, TGA, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), mechanical properties, water uptake and dimensional stability measurements, and decay resistance tests. The main results showed that the conversion of monomers into grafted polymers was high—up to 85%. The graft polymerization was confirmed by reduction (∼15°C lower) in the temperature of the main thermal event via DrTG and DSC. A decrease in OH band and an increase of peaks corresponding to CO and CO bonds in ATR-IR also confirmed the grafting. The hygroscopicity and wetting were reduced ∼10 times, dimensional stability improved about 70%, and mechanical properties improved between 55 and 85% after the graft polymerization. Decay resistance also increased both against brown and white rot fungi. The graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate can improve many technological properties of low-quality pinewood. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:597–603, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers