Graft Polymerization of Acrylates onto Ramie Fabric Initiated by Ceric Salt

아크릴산 에스테르의 저마섬유에의 그라프트중합

Methyl-, ethyl- and butylacrylate have been grafted onto ramie fabric usig ceric ammonium nitrate as initiator. In this study, the formation of cellulose-ceric complex was separated from polymerization by treating ramie fabric in ceric ammonium nitrate solution prior to polymerization. Then the pretreated ramie was kept in the vapors of monomers for grafting. Some factors influencing the graft polymerization, the structure of graft polymer and properties of grafted ramie fabrics have been studied. The results of this study are as follows: The efficiency of graft polymerization of monomers showed the following order: MA＜EA＜BA. The degree of polymerization of branched polybutylacrylate ranged 2∼5${\times}$10$^3$, which was considerably high and in general it was higher than that of homopolymer produced by the process of graft polymeriaztion. The number of branches per cellulose molecule was less than unity through out all the cases of experiment and the site of graft was estimated to be the first carbon atom of glucose unit at the end of the cellulose. The moisture regain of the grafted ramie fabrics decreased for all the MA, EA and BA grafts. Softness and crease recovery were improved except MA graft, particulary BA graft showed greater improvement in this respect. The tensile strengths of both EA and BA grafts were conspicuously decreased as the amount of the graft was tending to be in creased while MA graft showed no greater variation.