Improvement of properties of natural polymers with organo-metallic complexes under ultraviolet radiation

Thin polymer films were prepared under ultraviolet radiation with a triacry lated aliphatic urethane oligomer that was diluted with reactive monomers s uch as N-vinyl pyrrolidone and tripropylene glycol diacrylate. These films were characterized. The effect of incorporation of a minute amount (>0.15%) of a titanium-pyridine complex and its ligands on the characterization of these polymers was investigated. Cotton and jute yarns were treated with th e solutions containing these materials under the UV radiation. The change i n tensile properties of the treated natural polymers (cotton and jute) was evaluated, and it was found that the titanium-pyridine-based complex substa ntially enhanced the tensile strengths (tenacity) for bath cotton and jute. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.