Study of methyl-methacrylate-viscose fiber graft copolymerization and the effect of grafting on thermal properties

The graft copolymerization of methyl-methacrylate onto viscose fibers was s tudied under photoactive conditions with visible light using Ce4+/Ti3+ comb ination as redox initiator in a limited aqueous medium. Polymerization cond ucted in the presence of light at 30 +/- 1 degrees C produced significant g rafting, compared with that conducted in the dark under the same conditions . The % grafting, % total conversion, and % grafting efficiency were studie d by varying time, monomer concentration, initiator concentration, and pH o f the medium. The mechanism of polymerization and graft copolymer formation have been discussed. Characterization of the grafted fibers was done by Fo urier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of % grafting on thermal properties was studied by thermogravimetri c analysis. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.