PHOTOINDUCED CRAFT COPOLYMERIZATION OF 2-HYDROXYETHYL METHACRYLATE ONCOTTON CELLULOSE IN THE PRESENCE OF TRIETHYLENEGLYCOL DIMETHACRYLATE

The addition of a bifunctional monomer, triethylene glycol dimethacryl ate (TEGDMA), to a grafting system containing 2-hydroxyethyl methacryl ate (HEMA) and benzoin ethyl ether photoinitiator substantially increa sed the graft add-on of the unswollen and sodium hydroxide-swollen cot ton cellulose. Grafting caused changes in the properties of the substr ate such as moisture regain, the water of imbibition, and the dyeabili ty with a direct and a reactive dye in accordance with the graft level . The observations have been explained in relation to structural chang es in the grafted cotton. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.