Graft copolymerization of starch with methyl acrylate: An examination of reaction variables

摘要

AbstractStarch‐g‐poly(methyl acrylate) (S‐g‐PMA) copolymers containing 55–60 PMA were prepared from cornstarch, high amylose cornstarch, and waxy cornstarch with ceric ammonium nitrate initiation. Graft copolymers were characterized with respect to PMA homopolymer, conversion of monomer to polymer, grafted PMA content, grafting frequency, and the molecular weight and molecular weight distributions of PMA grafts. Variables investigated in the graft copolymerization reaction were nitric acid concentration, ceric ion‐to‐starch ratio, reaction time, gelatinization of the starch, and reactant concentration in water. At high reactant concentrations, high conversions of methyl acrylate to grafted PMA could be obtained in less than 0.5 h at 25°C. © 1993 John