Graft copolymerization cellulose copolymers

Polysaccharides and their graft copolymers find extensive applications in diversified fields. Grafting is known to improve the characteristic properties of backbones. Such properties include water repellancy, thermal stability, flame resistance, dyeability and resistance towards acid-base attack and abrasion. Modification of natural cellulosics through graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto Cannabis indica, rayon, jute, cotton, etc., has resulted in the improvement of their morphology and other physicochemical properties [9-23]. 

An effective method of NVF chemical modification is graft copolymerization [34,35]. This reaction is initiated by free radicals of the cellulose molecule. The cellulose is treated with an aqueous solution with selected ions and is exposed to a high-energy radiation. Then, the cellulose molecule cracks and radicals are formed. Afterwards, the radical sites of the cellulose are treated with a suitable solution (compatible with the polymer matrix), for example vinyl monomer [35] acrylonitrile [34], methyl methacrylate [47], polystyrene [41]. The resulting copolymer possesses properties characteristic of both fibrous cellulose and grafted polymer. 

Berlin, and Makarova (85) took up this approach ten years later and prepared the methacrylic esters of cellulose which could be polymerized to cross-linked products. They also descibed the graft copolymerization with methyl methacrylate, although, they did not recognize at that time their products as graft copolymers. 

Graft Copolymerization. Graft copolymers of cellulose and cellulose derivatives were prepared in a quartz reactor containing 0.5 g oven dried sample, 10 ml monomer and 100 ml water at 45°C. The grafting mixtures or solutions were photo-irradiated with the ultraviolet light of X > 254 nm and X >... 

Graft copolymerization reactions of fibrous cellulose with vinyl monomers were initiated at free radical sites formed on the cellulose molecule by interaction with radiation, by reaction with Ce4+ ions in acidic solution, or by H abstraction by OH radicals formed by reaction of Fe2+ ions with H202 in aqueous solution. The effects of experimental conditions on the location of these sites on the cellulose molecule and on the reactions were studied by ESR spectroscopy. The molecular weights of the grafted copolymers and the distribution of the polymers within the fibrous cellu-losic structure were determined. Some of the properties of the copolymers are discussed. 

Tihe preparation and properties of cellulose graft copolymers have A been of considerable interest in the textile, paper, and wood products industries for a number of years. Both free radical- and ionic-initiated graft copolymerization reactions of vinyl monomers with cellulose have been reported. The vinyl-cellulose copolymers have some of the properties of both the cellulosic fibers and the grafted polyvinyl copolymers (I, 3, 47). 

The modification of the properties of cotton cellulosic textile products, through free radical-initiated graft copolymerization reactions with vinyl monomers, has been investigated at the Southern Laboratory for a number of years (6, 9). In this chapter, we summarize the basic mechanisms and principles involved in free radical reactions of cellulose, initiated by high energy radiation, ceric ion in acidic solution, and aqueous solutions of ferrous ion and hydrogen peroxide. Some of the properties of fibrous cotton cellulose graft copolymers are also presented. 

Graft Copolymers of Cellulose Derivatives. Modification of cellulose derivatives via graft copolymerization reaction has gradually gained popularity. An... 

Infrared spectroscopy is a useful tool to identify functional groups through vibrational frequencies in polymers to evaluate changes in structure This research was focused in graft copolymerization of Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) onto chicken feathers fibers (CFF) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), evaluating effect of reaction conditions (time reaction, monomer concentration, initiator concentrations) on grafting yield and probe presence of HEMA in copolymers by means Infrared Spectroscopy (IR). 

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