Radiation‐initiated graft copolymerization of binary monomer mixtures containing acrylonitrile with cotton cellulose

Abstract By the use of the cobalt 60 postirradiation grafting technique, purified cotton cellulose fibers were graft‐copolymerized with binary mixtures of acrylonitrile and other monomers, including styrene, 1,3‐butylene dimethacrylate, vinylpyrrolidone, vinylidene chloride, and methyl, butyl, lauryl, glycidyl, and allyl methacrylates. The irradiated cotton fibers were immersed in solutions of the monomers at 25°C to initiate graft copolymerization. Solvents were water, methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, and methyl ethyl ketone, alone or in several combinations. The extent of graft copolymerization and the composition of the grafted copolymer depended on the composition of the binary mixtures of monomers and on the solvent or mixtures of solvents used. For example, addition of styrene, 1,3‐butylene dimethacrylate, or vinylpyrrolidone to acrylonitrile increased the extent of graft copolymerization to a maximum value; addition of vinylidene chloride or allyl methacrylate to acrylonitrile did not greatly affect the extent of graft copolymerization; and addition of methyl or glycidyl methacrylate to acrylonitrile increased the extent of graft copolymerization without passing through a maximum value. The proportion of acrylonitrile in the grafted copolymer was generally less than that in the binary mixtures. As the reaction time was increased, the extent of graft copolymerization increased to a maximum value; however, the composition of the grafted copolymer did not change significantly. Generally, the addition of water to the solutions increased the extent of graft copolymerization. The mechanisms of these graft copolymerization reactions are discussed.