H. Choi et K. Yeh, INSITU COPOLYMERIZATION AND CROSS-LINKING OF COTTON FIBERS FOR IMPROVED PERFORMANCE, Textile research journal, 63(5), 1993, pp. 302-308
A heterogeneous copolymerization of N-methylolacrylamide (NMA) and N,N
-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) with potassium persulfate was examined as a
means of controlling the degree of crosslinking in a polymerization-cr
osslinking treatment of cotton fibers. The results indicate that in-si
tu copolymer composition is strongly affected by the relative adsorpti
on/diffusion rates of the comonomers. The reaction mechanisms reveal t
hat several competing reactions such as homo- and copolymerization of
comonomers, graft copolymerization on the cellulose chains, and conden
sation of N-methylol with cellulose chains also result in the fixation
ot comonomers in the fiber. Increases in resilience and fiber strengt
h retention reveal a dependence on the degree of crosslinking similar
to that observed previously.