Effect of degradative treatments on cotton graft copolymers. Part IV. Hydrolytic susceptibility of poly(acrylonitrile)-cotton graft copolymers

Acrylonitrile (AN) was graft polymerized to different levels onto cotton fabric using ferrous cellulose thiocarbonate-hydrogen peroxide redox system. The hydrolytic susceptibility toward 0.5 N HCl at 40°, 60°, and 80°C for 15–90 minutes of copolymers having 12, 15, and 22.5% graft was studied and compared with those of ungrafted and initiator-treated cottons. Hydrolytic susceptibility was assessed by monitoring carboxylic groups, copper number, nitrogen content (in the case of the copolymers) and tensile strength of the five substrates. Results obtained concluded that poly(AN)-cotton graft copolymers were more susceptible to acid degradation than the ungrafted and initiator-treated cottons when the acid treatment was performed under mild conditions. On the other hand, they were less susceptible when the acid treatment was carried out under relatively severe conditions.