CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF COTTON BY THE GRAFT COPOLYMERIZATION OF REACTIVE MONOMER, AND CROSS-LINKING

II. GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE

Abstract

Glycidyl methacrylate was graft polymerized onto cotton by simultaneous Co⁶⁰ γ-ray irradiation in the presence of air at room temperature. During the graft polymerization, epoxy rings in the grafted side chains did not open by the irradiation of the total dose below 2×10⁵ r, but insoluble homopolymer was formed above this dose.
As the grafted cotton has reactive epoxy rings in the grafted side chains, long chain cross-linkings can be introduced to the cotton cellulose using these reactive groups.
The crease recovery and some tensile properties of the grafted and cross-linked cottons were examined.
The results may be summarized as follows:
(1) Dry crease recovery of the grafted cottons cured after treated with H₃PO₄-methyl ethyl ketone, HCOOH-morpholine and ethylene glycol-BF₃ respectively increases considerably, but no improvement is observed in wet crease recovery.
(2) Curing of the grafted cottons treated with ethylene diamine or bis (hydroxy ethyl) sulfone gives no effects on improving both the dry wet crease recoveries.
(3) Curing of the grafted cottons treated with Zn(BF₄)₂ solution gives a considerable improvement in both the dry and wet crease recoveries.
(4) Though the strength of warp of the grafted cotton fabric is decreased by cross-linking, the tensile damage of cotton by cross-linking is remarkably prevented by the grafting.