Graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers on modified cotton. IV. Ceric‐induced grafting on vinyl monomers on cellulose bearing different substituents

摘要

AbstractThe influence of introducing various functional groups into the cellulose molecule on its susceptibility toward grafting with vinyl monomers such as acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate using the Ce(IV)–cellulose redox system was studied. While cellulose bearing either cyanoethyl or carboxymethyl groups showed higher graft yields, cellulose bearing both groups showed lower yields. Presence of acrylamidomethyl groups in the cellulose molecule reduced its reactivity to grafting. The same holds true for cellulose bearing acrylamidomethyl groups along with carboxymethyl groups. On the other hand, introducing carbamoylethyl groups in the cellulose molecule enhances significantly the susceptibility of cellulose toward grafting. This is also observed with cellulose bearing cyanoethyl and carboxyethyl groups. Treating cellulose with N‐methylolacrylamide in alkaline medium seems to produce a crosslinked cellulose with lower reactivity to grafting. The results obtained with the different substrates were discussed on the basis of the change in the physical and/or chemical structure of cellulose brought about during its modification as well as on the nature of the substituent groups introduced. The mode of Ce(IV) attack on cellulose was also clarif