Chemically induced graft copolymerization of acrylic acid onto polyester fabrics. I. Kinetic investigation of grafting

The kinetics of grafting of acrylic acid onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabrics initiated by benzoyl peroxide has been studied. Extent of grafting depended upon time, concentration of the initiator and the monomer, as well as the presence of the activator used. From the temperature dependence of the initial rate of grafting the overall activation energy for grafting was found to be 90 kJ/mol. The results of the monomer and temperature dependence found in this study are consistent with the rate expression derived from a normal kinetic scheme for grafting.