ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION-INDUCED GRAFT-COPOLYMERIZATION OF 2-HYDROXYETHYL METHACRYLATE ONTO POLYPROPYLENE

Polypropylene staple fibers were grafted with 2-hydroxyethyl methacryl ate (HEMA) using ultraviolet radiation in the presence of three differ ent photoinitiators, uranyl nitrate (UN), eerie ammonium nitrate (CAN) , and benzoin ethyl ether (BEE), separately. The parameters of graftin g were optimized for obtaining maximum graft add-on. BEE appeared to b e a better photoinitiator than the other two, giving maximum possible graft add-on. CAN, as a chemical initiator, did not show significant i mprovement in grafting. The moisture regain of the grafted polypropyle ne increased in proportion with the graft add-on. Dyeing with reactive dye could give only light color to the grafted fiber. Possible explan ations have been given. (C) 1994 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.