Modification of cotton,rayon, and silk with urethane acrylate under ultraviolet radiation

Ten different formulations were developed with Ebcryl 264, a urethane acrylate in combination with other monofunctional monomers in the presence of some additives and coadditives. Thin films prepared from these formulations under ultraviolet (UV) radiation were characterized. Natural fibers such as cotton, rayon, and silk were treated with the formulations and cured under UV radiation. Their physical and mechanical properties were studied. It was found that the tensile strength (TS) of cotton, rayon, and silk was significantly increased as a result of this treatment under UV radiation (TS_cotton = 150%, TS_rayon = 30%, and TS_silk = 40%). Elongation of cotton and silk increased to 380 and 50%, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 63: 1703–1711, 1997