SIMULTANEOUS FREE-RADICAL POLYMERIZATION AND ACIDIC POLYCONDENSATION OF ACRYLAMIDE-FORMALDEHYDE RESIN ON JUTE FABRIC

Acid catalyzed grafting, polycondensation, and crosslinking of acrylam ide-formaldehyde (AMF) resin and simultaneous free radical graft copol ymerization of the resin moieties on jute fabric were studied using a combination of MgCl2 and K2S2O8, respectively, as the (dual) catalyst system. Resin application and finish on jute fabric were accomplished by padding at room temperature, drying at 80 degrees C, and polymeriza tion and curing at 150 degrees C. Changes in chemical structure and su rface morphology of jute fiber on resin treatment were examined by Fou rier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron mic roscopy (SEM), respectively. Application of 8% AMF resin under the dua l catalyst system in appropriate doses produced the most improved bala nce in the properties of jute fabric, including tenacity, modulus, bre aking extension, stiffness, crease recovery angle, fiber shedding, moi sture regain, and dyeability. Analysis indicated that all the major co nstituents of jute, namely, alpha-cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin reacted with the AMF resin system and that the resin finish turned ju te thermally more stable. Effects of different degrees of removal of l ignin and hemicellulose from jute on its AMF resin uptake were also st udied and reported. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.