GRAFT COPOLYMERIZATION OF VINYL MONOMERSON TO SERICIN

Abstract

Graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers such as styrene, vinyl acetate, methylmethacrylate, and methylacrylate on to sericin using radical initiators was studied. Sericin was obtained by scouring silk fibers. The effect of experimental conditions on total conversion, grafting ratio and grafting efficiency was studied by varying the concentrations of radical initiators and vinyl monomers, reaction time, reaction temperature etc.
It was found that water-soluble initiators were superior to water-insoluble ones in obtaining graft-copolymers having homogeneous molecular weight distribution and that grafting of vinyl monomers on to sericin was strongly dependent on kinds of vinyl monomers. Therefore, selection of graft initiators and monomers seems to be essential for obtaining graft-copolymers of sericin having preferable properties.