Abstract: | New graft copolymers were synthesized by grafting methyl acrylate onto cutch, a vegetable tanning agent, in acetic acid medium with hydrogen peroxide as the initiator. The graft copolymers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The dependence of the percentage of grafting, monomer conversion, efficiency of grafting and rate of grafting on the concentrations of initiator, acetic acid, and cutch were investigated. The optimum experimental conditions for grafting were obtained. A probable mechanism of grafting was also proposed. |