COPOLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE ON TO CELLULOSE ACTIVATED BY CORONA

The corona discharge technique was explored as a means of forming chem ically active sites on cellulose surfaces. Paper thus treated was brou ght into contact with the reaction medium, a styrene-methanol mixture. The corona discharge was generated between two flat circular electrod es separated by a quartz disk. Scanning electron microscope analysis a nd wettability studies indicated that a hydrophobic film coated the ce llulosic fibers. The molecular weights of both the homopolymer and the copolymer were characterized by GPC. Two peaks for grafted copolymer were observed, the first having about the same average molecular weigh t as the homopolymer, and the second having a molecular weight of abou t ten times the first fraction. A polymerization mechanism is proposed .