Ionic Xanthate Method of Grafting. II

In the ionic xanthate method of grafting, the increase of sodium hydroxide concentration and liquor ratio increased the grafting parameters up to a limit. The limit varied from one monomer to another. The positive values of the standard degree of concentration of sodium hydroxide indicate that the graft polymerization reaction has happened. The extent of decrease in the grafting parameters with the increase of the liquor ratio may be due to an increase of termination reactions as a result of the increasing number of HOH molecules, with resulting chain transfer reactions to solvent. Grafting parameters also increased with an increase of the concentration of monomers up to a limit. The reactivity of these monomers is in the order: methyl methacrylate > ethyl acrylate > allyl chloride > acrylonitrile > methyl acrylate > allyl alcohol, being dependent on both the radical stabilization and the strength of the electron acceptance of the monomers. The activation energy of the overall polymerization reaction (i.e., grafting and homopolymer) decreased with the increase of the crude grafting yield, and the reverse relation was achieved with the true grafting yield (i.e., grafting reaction only). This difference may contribute to the difference in the conformation of the polymer chains in graft polymerization on the active sites of the cellulose chains.     

Pentavalent vanadium ion–cellulose thiocarbonate redox-system induced grafting of methyl methacrylate and other vinyl monomers onto cotton fabric

Cellulose thiocarbonate was prepared by reacting cotton cellulose fabric with carbon disulphide in the presence of sodium hydroxide. The treated fabric formed, with pentavalent vanadium ion, an effective redox system capable of initiating grafting of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and other monomers no+o the cotton fabric. The dependence of grafting on vanadium concentration, pH of the polymerization medium, temperature and duration of grafting, nature and concentration of monomer, and solvent/water ratio was studied. The results indicated that increasing the pentavalent vanadium (V^v) concentration up to 60 mmol/L was accompanied by enhancement in the rate of grafting; the latter was not affected by further increase in V^v concentration. Maximum grafting yield was achieved at pH 2; grafting fell greatly at higher pH. The rate of grafting followed the order: 70° > 60° > 50°C. The graft yield increased significantly by increasing the MMA concentration from 0.5 to 5%. Of the solvents studied, n-propanol and isopropanol enhanced the grafting rate provided that a solvent/water ratio of 5 : 95 was used; a higher solvent ratio decreased the magnitude of grafting. Other solvents, namely, methanol, ethanol, n-butanol, and acetone, in any proportion, decreased the rate of grafting. With the monomer used, the graft yield followed the order: methyl methacrylate > methyl acrylate > methacrylic acid > ethyl methacrylate > acrylic acid. Also reported was a tentative mechanism for vinyl-graft copolymerization onto cotton fabric using cellulose thiocarbonate-V^v. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Graft copolymerisation of vinyl monomers on modified cottons. VII. Grafting by chain transfer

Grafting of methyl methacrylate on cellulosic materials by chain transfer under the catalytic influence of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was extensively studied. The graft yield is influenced by reaction time, temperature, monomer and initiator concentration, reaction medium and nature of the substrate. In general, the grafting reaction shows an induction period after which the polymerisation proceeds rapidly. The graft yield increases and the induction period decreases by rising the reaction temperature from 50 to 70°C. This is also the case when the monomer concentration was increased from 2 to 6%. Increasing the AIBN concentration up to 0.01 M causes a significant enhancement in grafting while further increase brings about a marked fall in the graft yield. Among the reaction media studied, a water/solvent mixture containing 25% of either methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol or acetone seems to constitute a reaction medium where the monomer and initiator are completely miscible and the swelling of cellulose by water is not hindered by the presence of these solvents. Increasing the solvent ratio in the water/solvent mixture causes a considerable decrease in the graft yield. The polymer content of the cellulosic materials, i. e. the graft yield, follows the order: partially carboxymethylated cotton > cotton treated with 12N sodium hydroxide > cyanoethylated cotton > cotton treated with 0.5 N sodium hydroxide > purified cotton. In addition, proof of grafting was provided by the fractional precipitation method.     

Peroxydiphosphate–metal ion–cellulose thiocarbonate redox system‐induced graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers onto cotton fabric

The grafting of methacrylic acid (MAA) and other vinyl monomers onto cotton cellulose in fabric form was investigated in an aqueous medium with a potassium peroxydiphosphate–metal ion–cellulose thiocarbonate redox initiation system. The graft copolymerization reaction was influenced by peroxydiphosphate (PP) concentration, the pH of the reaction medium, monomer concentration, the duration and temperature of polymerization, the nature of vinyl monomers, and the nature and concentration of metallic ions (activators). On the basis of a detailed investigation of these factors, the optimal conditions for the grafting of MAA onto cotton fabric with the said redox system were as follows: [Fe²⁺] = 0.1 mmol/L, [PP] = 2 mmol/L, [MAA] = 4%, pH‐2, grafting time = 2 h, grafting temperature = 70°C, and material/liquor ratio = 1 : 50. Under these optimal conditions, the graft yields of different monomers were in the following sequence: MAA ? acrylonitrile > acrylic acid > methyl acrylate > methyl methacrylate. The unmodified cellulosic fabric (the control) had no ability to be grafted with MAA with the PP–Fe²⁺ redox system. The percentage of grafting onto the thiocarbonated cellulosic fabric was more greatly enhanced in the presence of iron salts than in their absence. This held true when the lowest concentrations of these salts were used separately. A suitable mechanism for the grafting processes is suggested, in accordance with the experimental results. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 1879–1889, 2003     

Azobisisobutyronitrile-induced vinyl graft polymerization onto nylon 66

The presence of nylon 66 during polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) under the influence of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) produces a nylon-PMMA graft copolymer. The copolymerization reaction is greatly influenced by the reaction medium, temperature and time of the reaction, concentration of MMA, and addition of metallic ions. Polymerization in pure organic solvents brings about little or no grafting. Incorporation of water into the polymerization system enhances grafting significantly. A reaction medium of a water/solvent mixture in a ratio of 75:25 constitutes the most favorable medium for the grafting reaction in question. Of the solvents examined, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, and acetone work extremely well. Increase in reaction time is accompanied by an increase in the graft yield. The same holds true for the reaction temperature; the graft yield is much higher at 70 than at 50°C and follows the order 70°C > 60°C > 50°C. Increasing MMA concentration also causes considerable enhancement of the graft yield. The presence of 0.01M cupric sulfate in the polymerization system brings about an eightfold increase in the graft yield, whereas the presence of ferric sulfate at the same concentration causes a sixfold increase. The mode of initiation of grafting seems to be different in the presence of metallic ions than in their absence. A mechanism for the reactions involved in the both cases has been proposed.     

Grafting onto wool,XVII. Graft copolymerization of methyl acrylate and ethyl acrylate by use of VO(acac)2 as initiator. Comparison of monomer reactivities

Graft copolymerization of acceptor monomers methyl acrylate and ethyl acrylate onto Himachali wool fiber has been studied in aqueous medium by using vanadium oxyacetyl acetonate as initiator at 40, 50, 60, and 70°C. Graft copolymerization was carried out for various reaction periods and nitric acid was found to catalyse the reaction. Percentage of grafting and percent efficiency have been determined as functions of concentration of nitric acid, concentration of initiator, concentration of monomer, time, and temperature. Under optimum conditions, methyl acrylate and ethyl acrylate afforded maximum grafting to the extent of 28.4 and 18.5%, respectively. Relative reactivities of methyl acrylate and ethyl acrylate towards grafting have been compared with those of methyl methacrylate, acrylic acid and vinyl acetate reported earlier from this laboratory. Different vinyl monomers showed the following reactivity order: MMA > MA > EA > AAc > VAc. Several grafting experiments were carried out in the presence of various additives which included tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP), dimethylsulfoxide, pyridine, and dimethylformamide. Only TBHP was found to enhance grafting to a considerable extent, other additives decrease percent grafting of both methyl acrylate and ethyl acrylate.     

Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and other vinyl monomers onto cotton fabric using ferrous cellulose thiocarbonate–N-bromosuccinimide redox initiation system

The cellulose thiocarbonate, in the fabric from, was treated first with a freshly prepared ferrous ammonium sulphate (FAS) solution. The sotreated fabric formed, with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), an effective redox system capable of initiating grafting of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and other vinyl monomers onto the cotton fabric. The effect of the polymerization conditions the polymer criteria, namely, graft yeild, homopolymer, total conversion, and grafting efficiency, was studied. These polymer criteria were found to depend extensively upon concentrations of the Fe²⁺ ion (activator), NBS (initiator), and MMA; pH of the polymerization medium, and duration and temperature of polymerization. Based on detailed investigation of these factors, the optimal conditions for grafting were as follows: Fe²⁺, 1 × 10⁻³ mol/L; NBS, 1 × 10⁻² mol/L; MMA, 4%; pH, 2: polymerization time, 150 min; polymerization temperature, 60°C; material/liquor ratio, 1: 100. Under these optimal conditions, the rates of grafting of different vinyl monomers were in the following sequence: methyl methacrylate ≫ methyl acrylate > acrylonitrile. Other vinyl monomers namely, acrylic acid, and methacrylic acid have no ability to be grafted to the cellulosic fabric using the said redox system. A tentative mechanism for the polymerization reaction is suggested. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Graft polymerization of some vinyl monomers onto alkali-treated cellulose

Treatment of cellulose by different concentrations of alkali, namely, 5–30% NaOH, changed its fine structure and transferred cellulose I into cellulose II. The decreased crystallinity due to alkali treatment and the transformation of cellulose I into cellulose II lowered the reactivity of cellulose toward the grafting polymerization reactions. Compactness of the structure as a result of the treatment of cellulose with 5% sodium hydroxide concentration decreased the rate of the grafting reaction and the grafting yield. On the other hand, such treatment of cellulose with different concentrations of alkali increased the rate of ceric consumption, i.e., increased the rate of oxidation of cellulose. Thus, the termination reaction of the grafting polymerization process may occur as a result of such oxidation and because of the increase of the active sites onto cellulose, leading to a decrease of the grafting yields and rate of grafting polymerization reaction by using the free-radical grafting process. The use of the ionic-xanthate method of grafting polyvinyl- and polyallyl-on alkali-treated cellulose shows an increase of grafting efficiency and grafting yields. Maximum grafting efficiency and yields were achieved when cellulose was treated with sodium hydroxide concentration below 15%, and maximum crystallinity indices were obtained. Using 15–25% sodium hydroxide lowered the indices of crystallinity, and lower grafting yields and grafting efficiency were achieved. Thus, transformation of cellulose I into cellulose II decreased the reactivity of these treated celluloses toward graft polymerization reactions by the use of the ionic-xanthate method. In our opinion, termination reactions may also occur and affect the results.     

Grafting onto wool. VII. Ceric ion-initiated graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers. Comparison of monomer reactivities

In an attempt to compare relative reactivities of vinyl monomers toward grafting, methyl methacrylate (MMA) and acrylic acid (AAc) were grafted separately to Himachali wool in aqueous medium by using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as redox initiator. Nitric acid was found to catalyze the reaction. Percent grafting was determined as a function of concentration of nitric acid, concentration of CAN, concentration of monomer, time, and temperature. Optimum conditions for maximum grafting were evaluated for each monomer and were found to depend upon the nature of the monomer. Reactivities of MMA and AAc toward grafting were compared with those of methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA), and vinyl acetate (VAc) reported earlier from this laboratory and were found to follow the order MA > EA > MMA > VAc > AAc. An explanation for the observed order of reactivity of different vinyl monomers is presented.     

Redox-initiated vinyl graft polymerization onto wool with thiourea as the reductant. I. Grafting of methyl methacrylate with the hydrogen peroxide–thiourea catalyst system

The interaction of methyl methacrylate with wool under the catalytic influence of the hydrogen peroxide–thiourea redox system was studied under a variety of conditions. The degree of grafting depends upon the method empolyed; it is advantageous to first immerse wool in thiourea solution, monomer and hydrogen peroxide being then subsequently applied. Increasing the hydrogen peroxide concentration from 4 to 8 mmole/1. causes a significant enhancement in the graft yield. The latter remains practically unchanged upon further increment in hydrogen peroxide concentration within the range studied, i.e., up to 12 mmole/1. This was also observed with respect to thiourea concentration. On the other hand, increasing monomer concentration is accompanied by a significant increase in the graft yield. The polymerization reaction is temperature dependent; at the three temperatures examined, the graft yields follow the order 80° > 60° > 40°C. The rate of grafting is also dependent on the pH of the reaction medium over the range of 2 to 8, being decreased as the pH increased. Furthermore, the presence of traces of cupric ions in the polymerization system accentuates the graft formation. The alkali solubility as well as the urea bisulfite solubility of wool grafted with poly(methyl methacrylate) are much lower than those of physical mixtures of wool and poly(methyl methacrylate). This demonstrates that grafting of poly(methyl methacrylate) into wool has occurred.     

Kinetics and mechanism of free radical grafting of methyl acrylate onto sago starch

The graft copolymerization was carried out by methyl acrylate with sago starch in which ceric ammonium nitrate was used as an initiator. It has been found that the rates of graft polymerization and grafting efficiency were dependent upon the concentration of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN), methyl acrylate (MA), sago starch (AGU, anhydro glucose unit), mineral acid (H₂SO₄), and as well as reaction temperature and period. A rate equation of polymerization was established from the proposed reaction mechanism, and the rate of polymerization (R_p) was the first‐order dependence of the MA monomer concentration and square root of the CAN concentration. A new kinetic model of the grafting reaction has been proposed, and a normal kinetics of methyl acrylate polymerization was observed. An equation of a predicted model relating the graft fraction of poly(methyl acrylate) with the sago starch has been derived, and validity of the predicted model was verified by the experimental results. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 784–791, 2000     

Thermal behavior of graft copolymers of cotton cellulose and acrylate monomers

Cotton cellulose yarn was grafted with methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, and methyl methacrylate at various percentages of grafting. The effects of concentration of the initiator, concentration of the acid, and of temperature on grafting was studied and the mechanism discussed. The effect of reactivity of the monomer on the percentage graft-on is pointed out. Thermal behavior of natural and grafted cotton yarn was studied using dynamic thermogravimetry in air at a heating rate of 6°C/min up to a temperature of 500°C. The thermal stabilities of the samples grafted with various acrylate monomers to various percentages of grafting were computed from their primary thermograms by calculating the values of IDT, IPDT, and E^*. The results show that the thermal stability increases with increase in graft-on per cent, and the thermal stabilities of natural cotton and cotton grafted with different monomers are in the order ethyl > methyl > natural cellulose > methyl methacrylate > n-butyl acrylate.     

Graft copolymerization of wool using acrylate monomers. I. Optimum conditions of grafting and molecular weight of grafts

Wool fibres were grafted with methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate and methylmethacrylate to various percentages of grafting in nitrogen atmosphere using ceric ammonium nitrate in nitric acid as initiator. The effects of concentration of the initiator, acid, monomer, temperature and time on the grafting were investigated. A comparison of such results indicated the following reactivity order of monomers: methyl acrylate > ethyl acrylate > methylmethacrylate > n-butyl acrylate. The molecular weights of the grafts were investigated by isolating the grafts from the fibres.     

Radiation‐induced graft copolymerization of α‐methyl styrene and butyl acrylate mixture into polyetheretherketone films

Radiation‐induced graft copolymerization of α‐methyl styrene (AMS), butyl acrylate (BA) monomers, and their mixture was investigated on poly(etheretherketone) films. The graft polymerization was carried out using ethyl methyl ketone as the medium for the copolymerization and the maximum degree of grafting of 27% was achieved. It was observed that the grafting is significantly influenced by the reaction conditions, such as reaction time, preirrradiation dose, monomer concentration, monomer ratio, and the reaction temperature. The degree of grafting increases as the monomer concentration increases up to 30%, beyond which a decrease in the grafting was observed. The degree of grafting showed a maximum at 40% BA content in the monomer mixture. The temperature dependence of the grafting process shows decreasing grafting with the increase in the reaction temperature. The presence of AMS and BA grafts in the film was confirmed by FTIR spectra. The relative change in the PBA/PAMS fraction with respect to the reaction temperature has been found in this study. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Pentavalent vanadium ion-induced grafting of methyl methacrylate onto cotton cellulose

Graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto cotton cellulose using vanadium pentanitrate as initiator was studied under a variety of conditions. The graft yield increased with increasing initiator concentration up to 8 mmole/l. and then decreased upon further increase in initiator concentration. Increasing MMA concentration from 1 to 5% was accompanied by a significant increase in the degree of grafting. The latter was also affected by the kind and concentration of the acid incorporated in the polymerization medium. Based on graft yields, the efficiency of the acids follows the order H₂SO₄ > HNO₃ > HClO₄. Replacement of the acid with isopropyl alcohol was also examined. An isopropyl alcohol concentration of 10% constitutes the optimal concentration for grafting. Maximum graft yield depends upon the polymerization temperature; it follows the order 50°C ≥ 60°C > 40°C > 30°C > 70°C. Reaction mechanisms for grafting in the presence of acid as well as in the presence of isopropyl alcohol are proposed.     

Synthesis and characterization of graft copolymers of ethyl acrylate/acrylamide mixtures onto starch

Graft copolymerization of ethyl acrylate/acrylamide onto corn starch using potassium permanganate–citric acid initiation system was investigated. Major factors affecting the polymerization reaction were thoroughly investigated in terms of initiator concentration, monomer concentration, polymerization time, polymerization temperature, and starch/liquor, and the obtained results implied that the polymer yield which were expressed by total monomer conversion, grafting ratio, and grafting efficiency were determined by these factors. The optimum reaction conditions were as follows: starch, 30 g; potassium permanganate (based on weight of starch), 0.1%; citric acid (based on weight of starch), 0.5%; ethyl acrylate, 20%; acrylamide, 0.4 g; time, 3 h; temperature, 40°C; starch/liquor, 1:3. We concluded that the initiator of potassium permanganate–citric acid system could be used as a cheap initiator in manufacturing the starch graft copolymer. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Manganese(IV)-initiated graft polymerization of vinyl monomers on polyamide fibers

The feasibility of potassium permanganate to induce graft polymerization of vinyl monomers onto nylon 6 was investigated. The graft yield is greatly enhanced by increasing the monomer concentration, reaction time, and temperature. The addition of metallic ions as promoters to the grafting medium accelerates the graft polymerization. A mechanism for grafting was proposed. The activation energy of initiation E_i for methyl methacrylate was calculated and found to be 5 kcal/mole. The overall rate of graft polymerization R_p depends on the monomer concentration.     

A novel method for vinyl grafting onto cotton fabric using ceric-cellulose thiocarbonate redox system

Treatment of cotton fabric with carbon disulphide in presence of NaOH resulted in cellulose thiocarbonate. The latter formed a complex when treated with ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN). After being thoroughly washed, the Ce^IV cellulose thiocarbonate was capable of initiating vinyl graft polymerization onto cotton fabric without homopolymer formation. The graft yield obtained with methyl methacrylate was found to increase by increasing CAN from zero to 50 mmol/l at temperatures from 60 to 80°C. Grafting was greatly favoured at pH 2; alkaline pH offset grafting. Incorporation of up to 7% of methanol, ethanol, or isopropanol in the aqueous polymerization medium enhanced grafting significantly with the certainty that the highest graft yield was obtained with isopropanol; using higher alcohol percentages decreased grafting. The rate of grafting showed an initial fast rate followed by a slower rate; 60 minutes reaction time proved appropriate for grafting irrespective of the condition used. In addition to methyl methacrylate the ability of Ce^IV-cellulose thiocarbonate to induce grafting of acrylonitrile and acrylamide was also examined. The rate of grafting followed the order methyl methacrylate > acrylonitrile > acrylamide.     

Graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers onto modified cottons. VIII. Dimethylaniline–benzyl chloride-induced grafting of methyl methacrylate onto partially carboxymethylated cotton

The feasibility of dimethylaniline (DMA)–benzyl chloride (BC) mixture to initiate graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto partially carboxymethylated cotton was examined. The graft yield depends on the nature of the solvent used along with water; ethanol proved to be the best at a water;ethanol ratio of 90:10. Considerable grafting occurred in the presence of acetic acid at a concentration of 200 mmol/l. Higher concentrations of this acid decrease grafting significantly. The graft yield obtained in the presence of formic acid was much lower than that obtained in the presence of acetic acid. Inclusion of hydrochloric or sulfuric acid in the graft polymerization system prevent grafting. A DMA–BC mixture at a concentration of 0.08:0.087 mole/l. constitutes the optimal concentration for grafting. This contrasts with 0.32:0.35 mole/l. for total conversion. The rate of grafting increases by raising the polymerization temperature; it follows the order 50°>60°>65°>70°>75°C. Furthermore, increasing the monomer concentration caused a significant enhancement in the graft yield and total conversion.