| Abstract: | Graft terpolymers were prepared by graft polymerization of a mixture of acrylonitrile (AN) and maleic anhydride (MA) onto PVA in DMSO solution using KPS as an initiator. Structure and solubility of graft terpolymers varied with the concentrations of KPS and MA. Both lower and upper critical values of KPS concentration varied with MA concentration, and the resulting reaction could be divided into three regions—crosslinked, hydrophobic, and hydrophilic regions. Structures of graft terpolymers were considered to be composed of homopolymer side chain grafted onto PVA while gelation occurred from the surplus radicals in PVA backbone to carry on the coupling reaction. The mechanical properties and viscosities increased with the increase of the wt % of AN in graft terpolymers; however, to increase AN content in PVA by increasing KPS concentration would bring about the oxidation scission and do damage to mechanical properties. Thus it becomes obvious that KPS can only be used at a suitable amount. |
