The grafting reaction of styrene onto cellulosic material isolated from Agave lechuguilla and fourcroydes, using the initiator ceric ammonium nitrate with nitric acid, under variation of concentration of components, reaction conditions, and pretreatment of starting material with aqueous NaOH was investigated. By determination of the maximal load it was revealed that a graft yield of about 6% gave products with the best mechanical properties, although graft yields of up to 15% can be realized. The samples were characterized by means of FTIR spectroscopy, DSC measurements, and SEM. Preliminary studies show that the grafted materials are thermally more stable compared to the starting material and that they are biodegradable.
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