Abstract
Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, and ethyl acrylate onto wool were carried out. Structure and properties of the wool and the grafted wool were studied by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, thermal expansion, and dynamical mechanical measurement. Three peaks in dynamic loss modulus-temperature curves at about 210°C, 60°C, and -50°C were assigned to the disordering of the α-crystallites in keratin, the microbrownian motions of wool backbone chains, and the side chain motions, respectively. About one-half of the -CONH- groups in the matrix and non-keratinous regions seems to form the hydrogen bonds, suggesting a considerably organized structure of the matrix components. Glass transition temperature of the graft chain is slightly higher temperature than that of the corresponding homopolymer. The discrete loss peak at the glass transition region was not detected when the thickness of graft polymer layer was thinner than about 2 nm.
