Stabilization of Cotton Against Ultraviolet Light by Grafting with Phenyl Methacrylate and α -Naphtyl Methacrylate

Abstract

In order to obtain reactive ultraviolet absorbers possessing excellent fastness to waShing, phenyl methacrylate and naphtyl methacrylate were prepared and grafted onto cotton fibers by various initiators. The effects of ultraviolet light irradiation upon tensile strength were examined. It was found that the tensile strength of grafted fibers did not decrease when ultraviolet light was irradiated for many hours, if these monomers were grafted more than about 13 using ceric ammonium nitrate as initiator. Infrared spectral studies of the irradiated fibers confirmed tha t phenylester linkages in the grafted chains were converted to o-hydroxyphenylketon structure upon ultraviolet irradiation, which might enhance the ultraviolet protectiveproperty.