Abstract
None catalytic photo-induced graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto acetylcelluloses having a different combined acetic acid content has been studied.
The degree of grafting and the number of grafted chains increased at a lower combined acetic acid content, corresponding to a lower degree of polymerization. These values using a quartz tube were greater than those using a pyrex tube. In case of regenerated cellulose, the degree of grafting also increased with decreasing the degree of polymerization.
Adding a small amount of solvent in the polymerization system generally increased the degree of grafting and the branched chain length, but adding more decreased these values. Furthermore, the chain transfer constants to the solvent and to the trank polymer were determined. The ultraviolet photolysis of acetylcellulose was also investigated by the infrared spectra.
From these results, it is concluded that the grafting proceeds at the chain ends of trank polymer and the grafting started by the photolysis of acetyl groups is denied.
