PHOTO-INDUCED GRAFT COPOLYMERIZATION ONTO CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE METAL SALT

Abstract

Photo-induced graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-metal salts has been studied.
The degree of grafting and the apparent number of grafted chains of CMC-Na salts increased with increasing carboxyl contents, CMC and monomer concentrations. Without the CMC, no polymerization occurred. The branched chain length and the apparent number of grafted chains were able to be controlled to some extent by adding organic solvents and additives to the polymerization system.
The degrees of grafting of CMC-Me salts (7 species) were greater than those of CMC-Na salts and not affected by the species of metal ions but the ion exchange capacities.
In all cases, it is inferred that the photo-graft copolymerization onto CMC-Me salts is initiated by the photolysis of carboxyl groups and terminated by the reaction between growing polymer radicals and cellulose radicals.