| Abstract: | To develop a new technique for the effective utilization of bagasse, cyanoethylation was attempted to see if bagasse could be converted into a thermoplastic material. The effects of various reaction parameters (temperature, time, alkali concentration, and acrylonitrile‐to‐bagasse ratio) on the extent of the cyanoethylation reaction were studied. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was done to demonstrate the occurrence of cyanoethylation; thermogravimetric analysis, to study the thermal stability of the produced cyanoethylated bagasse; X‐ray diffraction, to follow the change in the supramolecular structure; and scanning electron microscopy of hot‐pressed cyanoethylated bagasse to show the occurrence of thermoplasticization. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 1965–1978, 2001 |
