Studies on the Chemical Modification of Textile Fibers by Graft Copolymerization

III. Graft Copolymerization of Acrylamide onto Cellulose Acetate Fibers

Abstract

Using cerium salt as an initiator, the graft copolymerization of acrylamide onto cellulose acetate fibers has been studied.
Commercial acetate rayon fiber has been cut at the length of 2 mm and used in the experiment. The reaction has been carried out in nitrogen at 40°CAfter the reaction, the grafted product has been readily isolated from water-soluble homopolymer by washing with hot water.
It has been found that in the case of higher concentration of initiator the rate of grafting is not depend on the concentration.
When the initiator concentration is lower, however, the rate of grafting is proportional to square root of the initiator concentration and is expressed as follows.
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The grafted cellulose acetate fibers have been found to be improved in dyeability. The fibers are well dyed with acid dyes, and become insoluble in acetone.