Effects of grafted methyl methacrylate on the microstructure of jute fibres

The effects of grafting methyl methacrylate (MMA) by radiochemical methods on the microstructure of bleached jute fibres have been investigated by X-ray diffraction techniques. The fractional crystallinity (X_cr), crystallite size L(hkl) perpendicular to the (hkl) planes, overall isotropic temperature factors, and lattice distortions caused by grafting have been determined. The disordered regions between (040) planes are more favourable sites for introducing monomers than those between (120) planes. At 8.6 % wt MMA, strong secondary bonds between crystalites perpendicular to the (040) planes and monomers appear to align these particles along the (040) direction. At the same time, X_cr assumes the minimum value of 0.50 suggesting that the monomers enter the disordered region between (040) planes. At 10.6% wt monomer, secondary bonds between particles perpendicular to the (120) planes and monomers align these particles, and it is suggested that hydrogen bonds between L(120) particles increase X_cr to 0.64. Above 10.6% wt monomer, disordered regions are overcrowded so that L(hkl) values are minimal and X_cr slowly decreases.