Chemical Modification of Cotton Fabrics -Photo-Induced Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate Onto Cotton Fabrics

Abstract

Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto cotton fabrics was carried out by the irradiation of monochromatic light of 365 nm wave length in a methanol-water mixed system with hydrogen peroxide as photosensitizer. When the graft copolymerization was made in the various mixing ratios of methanol and water, a maximum of % grafting was obtained at about 36 volume % methanol in the methanol-water mixture. The grafting increased with the irradiation time up to about 6 hr and decreased after that. The number average degrees of polymerization of the graft poly(methyl methacrylate) were estimated to be 14,500 and 15,100 for the fabrics of 35.0% and 53.9% grafting, respectively. Physical tests were made for the grafted fabrics. No decrease of tensile strength by the photo-irradiation was observed for them. Somewhat less tearing strength, high bending resistance and water repellency were obtained by grafting. Moreover, they gave very good dyeability with disperse dye both in dyeing and in heat-transfer printing.

Improvement of surface properties of polypropylene by photochemical treatment.

“…[ 1,2] We investigated the photo-induced grafting of vinyl monomers onto cellulose fibers and obtained some techniques. [3,4] However, they were not applied to PP. We found that the combination of the ozone treatment and UV irradiation was effective for the improvement of PP and PVC products.…”