Grafting vinyl monomers onto polyester fibers. VI. Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto PET fibers using tetravalent cerium as initiator

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto polyester fibers (PET) was investigated using tetravalent cerium as the initiator. The rate of grafting was found to increase progressively with the initiator and monomer concentrations up to 2.5 × 10^?2M and 70.41 × 10^?2M, respectively. The reaction was found to be catalysed by acid up to 15.0 × 10^?2M. The graft yield increased by increasing temperature. The effect of addition of some solvents and thiourea on the rate of grafting was also investigated. A suitable kinetic scheme has been pictured, and rate equations have been derived.