GRAFT-COPOLYMERIZATION OF 2-(PERFLUOROOCTYL) ETHYL ACRYLATE ONTO CELLULOSE

To develop novel functional fluorine-containing cellulose derivatives, graft-copolymerization of cellulose with 2- (perfluorooctyl) ethyl ac rylate (POEA) were studied. Various grafting conditions were examined on the initiator, solvent, temperature, and the amount of the monomer. In a homogeneous system, graft products were found to be obtainable r egardless of kinds of solvents and initiators. A dimethyl sulfoxide-pa raformaldehyde (DMSO-PF) was superior to a lithium chloride -N,N-dimet hylacetamide (LiCl-DMAc) as the reaction medium in terms of the grafti ng efficiency. The grafting rate depends on the initiator: ammonium pe roxodisulfate (APS) was more effective than 2,2-azobis(isobutyronitril e) (AIBN). Therefore, a DMSO-PF solvent system with APS was found to p rovide optimum conditions for grafting. In this system, copolymerizati on immediately was promoted, and nearly 100% conversion was achieved e ven at 15 min of reaction time. In this case, the grafting percentage attained was more than 300% with 40% grafting efficiency. On the other hand, the heterogeneous grafting method with ceric ions in the presen ce of water was not suitable for POEA.