High Grafting Ratio Research Articles

Regulating reaction kinetics used for the preparation of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer with high grafting ratio

A feasible and innovative reaction kinetics control method was proposed to reduce the degradation, cross-linking and other side reactions during the melt grafting process. The components in the melt grafting system were firstly blended at a temperature lower than the half-life (170 °C) of the radical initiator. After the system was homogeneous, the temperature was raised to the half-life temperature for high-temperature melting reaction. By regulating the reaction kinetics of silane grafted EVA system, the collision probability between macromolecular free radicals and grafted monomers was effectively increased. The efficiency and grafting rate of EVA grafted by silane were significantly improved, which reached a maximum of 74.45 % and 4.81 wt%, respectively. The thermal behavior, crystallographic, mechanical and electrical properties of the grafts were further characterized, which made the structure-activity relationship of polymers construct and investigate.

A microwave-assisted, solvent-free approach for effective grafting of high-permittivity fillers to construct homogeneous polymer-based dielectric film with high energy density

Polymer-based dielectric film capacitors are essential energy storage components in high-power energy storage devices benefiting from their high breakdown strength (Eb) and ultra-fast charge storage/release capability. However, the state-of-the-art commercial capacitor, biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), exhibits limited energy storage density primarily due to low dielectric constant, which hinders the advancement of the film capacitor industry. Introducing high-permittivity (high-k) nanofillers into PP matrix to improve polarization is a promising method but poor filler dispersion leads to a remarkable decrease of Eb, while various strategies to enhance dispersion of fillers typically require sophisticated process involving toxic procedure and consuming significant time and cost. Herein, we show that a novel and scalable surface grafting method for high-k fillers can be achieved by a facile and short-period microwave irradiation with the assistance of silane coupling agent (KH560). As a demonstration, the KH560 is effectively grafted onto the surface of barium titanate (BT), achieving a high grafting ratio of 4.91 % at a yield of 85.1 % within a short time (40s). Furthermore, the surface modified BT nanofillers are introduced into PP matrix and then biaxially stretched. The as-prepared film exhibits excellent dispersion and superior compatibility, resulting in a remarkable enhancement of tensile strength (from 82 MPa to 115.4 MPa), breakdown strength (from 200 MV/m to 254 MV/m), and energy density (from 1.49 J/cm3 to 2.21 J/cm3). This work proposes a new strategy for constructing homogeneous polymer-based dielectric film by microwave activating high-k fillers and is crucial for the design of next-generation energy storage devices.

Study on interfacial compatibilizing effect of PB grafts on PB/GNP thermally conductive composites

AbstractUsing polymer‐grafts to improve the interfacial compatibilization of composites is by far the most common and effective strategy. However, although polybutene‐1 (PB) resin enjoys the reputation of “gold plastic” in the field of industry, there are few studies on its grafting and functional modification. In this work, PB‐grafts were prepared by melt grafting method with maleic anhydride (MAH) and styrene (St) as the functional monomers. The effect of two PB‐grafts (PB‐g‐MAH and PB‐g‐MAH‐co‐St) on the interfacial compatibilization of PB/GNP (Graphene nanosheet) thermally conductive composites was compared and the corresponding compatibilizing mechanism is discussed. Results indicate that PB‐g‐MAH‐co‐St has better compatibizing effect than that of PB‐g‐MAH because the cooperation of St with MAH enhanced the grafting degree of functional monomers on PB, and increased the surface energy of PB‐g‐MAH‐co‐St, which reduced the interface energy between PB and GNP and improved its interfacial adhesion. A better compatibilization effect has achieved when the compatibilizer and filler at the mass ratio of 1:4. Under this ratio, when the content of GNP is 30 wt%, the thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity of PB/GNP/ PB‐g‐MAH‐co‐St composite achieved 1.82 W·m−1·K−1 and 8.44 × 10−8 S·cm−1, which are 857.89% and 9 orders of magnitude higher than that of neat PB, respectively. Moreover, the composite has good mechanical properties and processability, which is beneficial to industrialization.Highlights PB‐g‐MAH‐co‐St has higher grafting ratio than that of PB‐g‐MAH. The surface energy of PB/GNP composites is reduced by use of PB‐g‐MAH‐co‐St. There is a suitable mass ratio between compatibilizer and filler. The composite of PB/GNP/PB‐g‐MAH‐co‐St achieved high thermal conductivity. The PB/GNP/PB‐g‐MAH‐co‐St composites have good melting processability.

A new method for preparing anhydride grafted polypropylene with high grafting ratio by combining microwave reaction and reactive extrusion

A new method for preparing anhydride grafted polypropylene with high grafting ratio by combining microwave reaction and reactive extrusion

Active packaging coatings based on agarose caffeate: Preparation, characterisation, and application in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) preservation

Caffeic acid was grafted to agarose by a nonradical synthesis method to improve the functional properties of agarose and its application value in food preservation. Structural characterization showed that the carboxyl group of caffeic acid was successfully grafted to the C6-OH of D-galactose in agarose, and the highest grafting ratio could reach 12.18 %. Incorporating caffeic acid significantly increased the antioxidant and bacteriostatic activities. With the increase in grafting ratio from 0 % to 12.18 %, the scavenging ratio of DPPH increased from 0 % to 50.09 %, and the inhibition ratio of β-carotene bleaching increased from 7.49 % to 72.21 %. The bacteriostatic ratio of agarose caffeate (Cf-Ag) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus could reach 100 %. The fish preservation test indicated that Cf-Ag had positive effects on inhibiting bacterial growth and fat oxidation, reducing the water loss, and prolonging the overall quality of grass carp fillet during refrigeration, which was more effective than native agarose in extending the shelf life of fish.

Preparation and Characterization of a Renewable Starch-g-(MA-DETA) Copolymer and Its Adjustment for Dye Removal Applications.

Maleic anhydride-diethylenetriamine grafted on starch (st-g-(MA-DETA)) was synthesized through graft copolymerization, and the different parameters (copolymerization temperature, reaction time, concentration of initiator and monomer concentration) affecting starch graft percentage were studied to achieve the maximum grafting percentage. The maximum grafting percentage was found to be 29.17%. The starch and grafted starch copolymer were characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDS, NMR, and TGA analytical techniques to describe copolymerization. The crystallinity of starch and grafted starch was studied by XRD, confirming that grafted starch has a semicrystalline nature and indicating that the grafting reaction took place typically in the amorphous region of starch. NMR and IR spectroscopic techniques confirmed the successful synthesis of the st-g-(MA-DETA) copolymer. A TGA study revealed that grafting affects the thermal stability of starch. An SEM analysis showed the microparticles are distributed unevenly. Modified starch with the highest grafting ratio was then applied to celestine dye removal from water using different parameters. The experimental results indicated that St-g-(MA-DETA) has excellent dye removal properties in comparison to native starch.

Preparation of hydrophobic composite membranes based on carboxymethyl cellulose and modified pectin: Effects of grafting a long-chain saturated fatty acid

In this study, docosanoic acid, a very long chain fatty acid, was used to modify pectin, and the products were incorporated with carboxylmethyl cellulose (CMC) to prepare a hydrophobic composite. Results of structural characterisation showed that docosanoic acid was grafted to pectin through the esterification reaction, and the highest grafting ratio was 7.89 %. After grafting with docosanoic acid, the emulsifying activity and stability of pectin were significantly enhanced from 1.23 × 10−2 and 9.27 % to 4.78 × 10−2 and 26.73 %. Moreover, when modified pectin was blended with CMC instead of native pectin, the hydrophobicity of the composite membranes increased significantly. In detail, the highest contact angle of the composite membrane incorporated with modified pectin was 97.6°, which was much higher than that with native pectin (68.9°). As the grafting ratio of pectin increased, the water vapor permeability of the composite membranes significantly increased, while the water absorption decreased. Furthermore, the mechanical properties and transparency of the composite membranes could be improved by grafting docosanoic acid into pectin. All the results indicated that incorporating docosanoic acid possibly helped improve the comprehensive properties of the composite membranes based on polysaccharides and expand their application in food packaging.

Application of γ-cyclodextrin-lysozyme as host materials for encapsulation of curcumin: characterization, stability, and controlled release properties.

In this study, a safe and relatively stable γ-cyclodextrin-lysozyme (γ-CD-Lys) was synthesized using epichlorohydrin as the cross-linking agent, and curcumin was successfully encapsulated in γ-CD-Lys. The successful Lys grafting onto γ-CD can be demonstrated by a high grafting ratio (79.02%) and was further confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) band shifts and the new signal obtained at δ 2.75 in proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The encapsulation efficiency value of γ-CD-Lys was 76.74%, and the successful encapsulation of curcumin into γ-CD-Lys was confirmed by crystal structure change, increased melting point, and FTIR band shifts. The intermolecular bonds results suggested that associative forces between curcumin and γ-CD-Lys were electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonds interaction, and hydrophobic interaction. The designed nanoparticles had excellent stability at low pH and low salt concentration. The release rate of these nanoparticles was inhibited in simulated gastric conditions, whereas it increased significantly in intestinal media. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion experiments further confirmed that nanoparticles showed higher bioaccessibility (86.05%) compared with curcumin (58.82%). Overall, our study showed that the nanoparticles were highly promising for delivering curcumin because of their enhanced functional attributes and stabilization in acid or low salt environments. Also, it was an excellent wall material for targeting hydrophobic bioactive compounds in the intestinal tract via oral administration. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Reinforcing urea‐formaldehyde based composite foam by formation of tailored chemical/mechanical interlocking structure

AbstractUrea‐formaldehyde (UF) foam is considered to be a potential alternative for commercial polymeric foams due to its intrinsic flame retardancy and inexpensiveness, but it showed high brittleness and low strength, which restricts its wide applications. In this work, glass fiber powder (GF) was selected as the reinforcing filler, and by formation of tailored chemical/mechanical interlocking structure for the composite system, UF foam was highly reinforced. The surface of GF was coated with granular polydopamine (PDA) layer through self‐polymerization of dopamine, and then, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were further grafted onto GF surface with high grafting ratio via the bridge effect of PDA to construct a network like entanglement structure. The active groups of PDA layer on GF surface generated chemical/hydrogen bonding interactions with UF matrix, while rough CNTs network structure promoted the mechanical interlocking between GF and UF resin. Such multiple interfacial enhancement improved the stress transmission ability of the interface, exhibiting “supporting” on the cell wall and “cracks bridging” effect of GF. Compared with neat UF foam, the composite foam exhibited smaller cell size, narrower cell size distribution, higher cell density, more complete closed cell structure, while compressive strength and modulus of the composite foam increased by 78.7% and 90.08%, respectively. Moreover, the composite foam showed improved thermal stability and excellent flame retardancy with V‐0 rating of UL‐94 tests.

Hydrodynamic alignment and self-assembly of cationic lignin polymers made of architecturally altered monomers

Cationic kraft lignin (CKL) polymers with different degrees of grafting (35.2–125.5 mol%) were synthesized via polymerizing kraft lignin (KL) and [2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (ATAC) or [2 (methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium methyl sulfate (METAM) to investigate the impact of the chain extension of the polymers on the physicochemical behavior of CKL in an aqueous solution. It was observed that, at the same grafting ratio, the structural difference of CKLs influenced their hydrophilicity, in which the contact angle of KL-METAM and KL-ATAC solution (1 g/L) reached 9.4° and 11.8° on a glass slide, respectively, at the maximum degree of grafting of ~125 mol%. KL-METAM had a more three-dimensional and flexible structure than KL-ATAC in solution, which promoted its self-assembly (with the aggregate diameter of 235–532 nm) and sedimentation (with the TSI value of 16.8). The rheological studies confirmed the more elasticity of KL-METAM than KL-ATAC with the elastic modulus of 9.3 and 8 Pa at the highest frequency. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) adsorption studies illustrated that KL-METAM adsorbed more greatly and generated a bulkier and more viscoelastic adlayer than KL-ATAC did on a rigid surface, below saturation (ΔD/Δf slope of 0.13–0.45) and at equilibrium (ΔD/Δf slope of 0.02–0.17). For the deposited adlayer, the alterations in the slope of dissipation/frequency (ΔD/Δf) between the early and late stages of adsorption were claimed to be related to the conformational changes of CKLs upon adsorption. The findings of this study showed that the architecture of cationic monomers could affect the structure of CKLs so significantly that the lignin polymers would have different chain conformations and flexibility in solution, varied rheological properties, and adsorption performance on a solid surface. The significance of the monomer architecture on the properties and performance of CKLs was more observable at a higher grafting ratio.

Construction and characterization of antioxidative ferulic acid-grafted carboxylic curdlan conjugates and their contributions on β-carotene storage stability

Grafting copolymerization of phenolic acids onto polysaccharides is an important strategy to improve their biological activities. In this study, ferulic acid (FA)-grafted carboxylic curdlan conjugates, namely, Cur-8-g-FA, Cur-24-g-FA, and Cur-48-g-FA, were synthesized by free radical-induced grafting. Results showed that FA was covalently grafted onto carboxylic curdlans via ester bonds. The grafting ratios of Cur-8-g-FA, Cur-24-g-FA, and Cur-48-g-FA were 223.03 ± 12.63, 115.63 ± 5.96, and 152.30 ± 4.57 mg FA/g, respectively, which were related with the carboxylate contents, molecular weights, and chain conformations of carboxylic curdlans. Compared with carboxylic curdlans, the FA-grafted carboxylic curdlan conjugates had lower thermal stability, molecular weight, and rheological property and looser surface morphology but had more prominent antioxidant benefits in vitro, which were proportional to their grafting ratios. Moreover, good storage stability against chemical degradation was exhibited by the β-carotene in Pickering emulsions stabilized by Cur-8-g-FA with a high grafting ratio and molecular weight.

Preparation of allylamine-grafted cellulose by Ce(IV): a desirable candidate of oral phosphate binders

Development of oral phosphorus binding agent with desirable biocompatibility and stability is full of significance in the treatment of chronic kidney disease. In this study, a natural product, cellulose, was selected as the substrate agent in which the –OH groups are able to chelate with Ce(IV) to generate the radicals and thereby initiate the surface grafting polymerization. Following this way, allylamine-grafted cellulose was prepared (ALE-CLS) under mild environment with high grafting ratio (160.2%) and desirable phosphorus binding capacities (23.3 mg/g). The phosphorus binding capacity increases with the rise of grafting ratio. The degradation tests give the result that the product possesses a good stability in acid environment and oxidation environment, suggesting a good stability in gastrointestinal tract. The in vivo experiment is also conducted to reveal the effect on reducing the serum phosphate levels in healthy rats and rats with hyperphosphatemia. The prepared ALE-CLS shows a much lower swelling ratio than that of RenaGel® (0.25 vs 3.69), which may serve as a good candidate as oral phosphorus binding agent with less gastrointestinal discomfort.

Mechanically strong and tough polyimide aerogels cross-linked with amine functionalized carbon nanotubes synthesized by fluorine displacement reaction

Polyimide aerogels generally face problems of shrinkage and collapse of pore structure during preparation, resulting in poor macro-structural integrity and mechanical properties. Towards these problems, polyimide composite aerogels with three-dimensional porous network structure, outstanding mechanical and thermal properties have been synthesized by utilizing high grafting ratio of amino-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) prepared by fluorine displacement reaction in this study. All aerogel samples exhibited the network structure composed of highly interconnected nanofibers. Most importantly, the compression modulus of the PI aerogel reached to 47.3 MPa with the addition of amino-functionalized CNTs, which was 1126% higher than that of the linear PI aerogel. The prepared PI/CNT-NH2 composite aerogels can still maintain the original compressive modulus of 96% under high temperature conditions. These results indicate that the PI composite aerogels could exhibit great potential in aerospace applications as high-performance and lightweight porous materials.

Compatibilities and properties of poly lactide/poly (methyl acrylate) grafted chicken feather composite: Effects of graft chain length

AbstractSurface modified poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) grafted chicken feather fiber was applied as a reinforcement for polylactide (PLA)‐based composite film. The PMA grafted feather fiber with different PMA lengths were obtained for surface initiated Cu(0)‐mediated reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization. PLA‐based composite films with different unmodified or PMA‐grafted chicken feather fiber loading were prepared by solvent casting. Grafting PMA onto feather fiber enhanced interfacial bonding. Cracks and voids between matrix and fiber were eliminated. Thermal stability of these films also improved after introducing PMA. Feather fiber with high graft ratio showed worse dispersity in PLA due to its self‐aggregation. The heterogeneous nucleation agent behavior of feather grafted with longer PMA was also suppressed. Tensile tests showed that after modification, tensile strength and modulus was able to increase twice at 20% fiber loading. However, increasing PMA length improved break elongation but strength and modulus would drop slightly. These results indicated that grafting short PMA chain onto feather fiber surface was an effective and optimized method to improve dispersity and mechanical properties especially for higher filler loading.

A novel fluorescent glycopolymer for endogenous hydrogen peroxide imaging in living cells in a fully aqueous environment

The development of H2O2-responsive fluorescent glycopolymers with high specificity, sensitivity, and water solubility is a promising strategy for developing probes to detect the production and delivery of endogenous H2O2. Herein, two series of fluorescent glycopolymers (boronic acid derivatives, PG-PFE, and borate derivatives, PG-PFW) were synthesized through esterification and the Williamson reaction, respectively. To increase the sensitivity of the fluorescent glycopolymers, the effect of the reaction conditions on the grafting ratio was investigated in detail. Compared with the PG-PFE samples, the PG-PFW samples had a higher grafting ratio due to the highly efficient Williamson reaction. The structure and properties of the fluorescent glycopolymers were characterized by using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and photoluminescent spectroscopy. The obtained results showed that all of these fluorescent glycopolymers had good water solubility, low cytotoxicity, and selective responsiveness toward H2O2. HPG-PFW-5, with the highest grafting ratio, displayed a higher sensitivity toward H2O2 and higher stability during hydrolysis than the other materials. In confocal laser scanning microscope images, all of the fluorescent glycopolymers were observed only in cellular mitochondria, and HPG-PFW-5 exhibited a high degree of overlap with Mitotracker Red because of its high sensitivity. Two series of fluorescent glycopolymers (boronic acid derivatives, PG-PFE, and borate derivatives, PG-PFW) were synthesized through different methods. Compared with the PG-PFE samples, the PG-PFW samples had a higher grafting ratio due to the highly efficient Williamson reaction. The fluorescent glycopolymers possessed good water solubility, low cytotoxicity and selective responsiveness toward H2O2. Meantime, the fluorescent glycopolymers were imaged only in cellular mitochondria based on the fact that endogenous H2O2 is mainly distributed in cellular mitochondria.

Photo-grafting Poly(acrylic acid) onto Poly(lactic acid) Chains in Solution

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is one of the most important bio-plastics, and chemical modification of the already-polymerized poly(lactic acid) chains may enable optimization of its material properties and expand its application areas. In this study, we demonstrated that poly(lactic acid) can be readily dissolved in acrylic acid at room temperature, and acrylic acid can be graft-polymerized onto poly(lactic acid) chains in solution with the help of photoinitiator benzophenone under 254 nm ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Similar photo-grafting polymerization of acrylic acid (PAA) has only been studied before in the surface modification of polymer films. The graft ratio could be controlled by various reaction parameters, including irradiation time, benzophenone content, and monomer/polymer ratios. This photo-grafting reaction resulted in high graft ratio (graft ratio PAA/PLA up to 180%) without formation of homopolymers of acrylic acid. When the PAA/PLA graft ratio was higher than 100%, the resulting PLA-g-PAA polymer was found dispersible in water. The pros and cons of the photo-grafting reaction were also discussed.

Microcellular polyetherimide/carbon nanotube composite foam: Structure, property and highly reinforcing mechanism

Microcellular polyetherimide (PEI)/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite foams were prepared via water vapor-induced phase separation (WVIPS) process. The hydroxylated multi-wall nanotubes (MWNTs-OH) were applied, and strong interfacial interaction formed with PEI molecules by high grafting ratio. Much PEI resin adhered to MWNTs-OH surface, resulting in an obvious increase of MWNTs-OH diameter and formation of coating structure. For the composite foams, the homogenous spherical-like cell structure can be observed. With increasing MWNTs-OH content, the tensile strength of the composite foam first increased, and then decreased, reaching maximum at 4 wt% MWNTs-OH, a roughly 53% increase as a result of reinforcing effect of MWNTs-OH on matrix. Meanwhile, the storage modulus of the composite foam was much higher than that of pure PEI foam over the temperature range tested and still maintained above 610 MPa at 200 °C, suggesting a remarkable improvement of thermal mechanical stability. MWNTs-OH distributed uniformly in the matrix, and under stress it was pulled out with surface completely wrapped by PEI resin, confirming that the failure mode was the deformation and destruction of non-interface resin. By incorporation of MWNTs-OH, the thermal decomposition temperature, char yield and LOI values of the composite foam increased, while the UL-94 tests were classed as a V-0 rating.

Understanding the Antifouling Mechanism of Zwitterionic Monomer-Grafted Polyvinylidene Difluoride Membranes: A Comparative Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study.

The antifouling process of the membrane is very vital for the highly efficient treatment of industrial wastewater, especially high salinity wastewater containing oil and other pollutants. In the present work, the dynamical antifouling mechanism is explored via molecular dynamics simulations, while the corresponding experiments about surface properties of the zwitterionic monomer-grafted polyvinylidene difluoride membrane are designed to verify the simulated mechanism. Water can form a stable hydration layer at the grafted membrane surface, where all the simulated radial distribution function of water/membrane, hydrogen bond number, water diffusivity, and experimental oil contact angles are stable. However, the water flux across the membrane will increase first and then decrease as the grafting ratio increases, which not only depends on the reduced pore size of the zwitterionicmonomer-grafted membrane but also results from water diffusion. Furthermore, the dynamical fouling processes of pollutants (taking sodium alginate as an example) on the grafted membrane in water and brine solution are investigated, where both the high grafting ratio and electrolyte CaCl2 can enhance the fouling energy barrier of the pollutant. The results show that both the enhanced hydrophilic property and the electrostatic repulsion can affect the antifouling capability of the grafted membrane. Finally, the ternary synergistic antifouling mechanisms among the zwitterionic membrane, electrolyte, and pollutant sodium alginates are discussed, which could be helpful for the rational design and preparation of new and highly efficient zwitterionic antifouling membranes.

Construction of Polyurethane-imide/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Foam with Gradient Structure and Its Thermal Mechanical Stability

Graphene oxide (GO)@Fe3O4 nanohybrid with ferromagnetism was prepared and polyurethane-imide copolymer (PUI)/GO@Fe3O4 nanocomposite foams with gradient structure were first fabricated under a magnetic field. Fe3O4 nanoparticles intercalated into GO layers with high grafting ratio, resulting in complete exfoliation of GO in matrix. For the composite foam, the average cell size, cell wall thickness and apparent density gradually decreased along magnetic field direction, forming gradient cell structure in foam. Both mechanical property and thermal stability of foam were remarkably improved by addition of GO@Fe3O4. Compared with A region, in B region with enriched distribution of GO@Fe3O4, the compressive strength and modulus increased by 12.5 and 7.0%, respectively. The thermal degradation temperature, storage modulus, and Tg were obviously improved, indicating enhancement of thermal mechanical stability of PUI along magnetic field, revealing formation of gradient distribution of thermal mechanical property ...

Synthesis and characterization of poly(3-hexylthiophene)-grafted polyvinyl alcohol

Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) was grafted onto the surface of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) through simple chemical oxidative polymerization with FeCl3 in three different solvents, namely acetonitrile, chloroform, and hexane. Among these solvents, hexane best stimulated the grafting of P3HT to PVA; the modified PVA was obtained with a high grafting ratio and molecular weight. The resultant modified PVA was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet visible (UV–vis), fluorescence spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), as well as thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), contact angle and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The presence of P3HT on the PVA surface imparted hydrophobic character, and the PVA modified with P3HT exhibited enhanced electrical conductivity compared to PVA. The peaks in the XRD spectrum of PVA were less intense following P3HT grafting to the PVA surface, and the build-up of P3HT on the PVA surface led to the appearance of absorption and emission peaks in the visible wavelength range. PVA was less stable following grafting by P3HT and the existence of elemental sulfur originating from P3HT was detected on the modified PVA by FE-SEM elemental mapping.