| Abstract: | To enhance the water absorbency of wood fibers, various acrylic monomers were grafted to these fibers using cerium IV initiation followed by base hydrolysis. The absorbent capacity of hydrolyzed methyl acrylate- or acrylonitrile-grafted wood pulp fibers was an order of magnitude greater than ungrafted pulp fibers. A portion of this enhanced absorbency could be attributed to graft-induced osmotic forces. Enhanced absorbency was relatively independent of wood fiber type. Paper handsheets incorporating 20% grafted fibers had a fivefold increase in absorbent capacity, a twofold increase in dry tensile strength, a threefold or greater increase in wet tensile strength, and were more stretchable. In addition to enhanced absorbent capacity, the rate of absorbency was approximately 50% greater. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65:1463–1469, 1997 |
