| Abstract: | The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto wool initiated by thallium (III) perchloric was investigated in aqueous perchloric acid medium. The rate of grafting was evaluated varying the concentrations of the monomer, initiator, acid, and temperature. The rate of grafting was found to increase with the increase of the monomer and the initiator concentration. The graft yield was found to decrease upon increasing the acid concentration. Increase of temperature was accompanied with the increase of the graft yield. From the Arrhenius plot the overall activation energy was calculated to be 4.7 kcal/mol. The effect of inhibitors, various solvents, cationic and anionic surfactants, and different inorganic salts on the graft yield was studied. The grafting was considerably influenced by chemical modification of wool prior to grafting. A suitable kinetic scheme has been proposed, and a rate equation has been derived. |
