The Preparation and Properties of Cellulose containing Polyacrolein

Abstract

Redox-initiated polymerisation of acrolein in viscose rayon and cotton constitutes a novel method for the introduction of cross-links into cellulose under mild conditions. The products have good crease recovery but poor tear strength and resistance to abrasion. Polyacrolein is, however, unstable to alkali and is removed from cellulose by hot sodium carbonate-soap solution; irregularities in the structure of the polymer are held to account for this instability. The cross-links between polyacrolein and cellulose, which probably have a hemiacetal structure, are destroyed by reduction with sodium borohydride, which yields an alkali-resistant product, and by reaction with urea. Typical carbonyl-group reagents combine to a limited extent with polyacrolein-cellulose, and some of the derivatives have improved resistance to microbial attack.