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Polymer‐grafted cellulose fibers. I. Enhanced water absorbency and tensile strength
Author(s) -
Rezai E.,
Warner R. R.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19970822)65:8<1463::aid-app3>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - ultimate tensile strength , materials science , composite material , pulp (tooth) , acrylonitrile , cellulose , wet strength , polymer , izod impact strength test , absorption of water , polymer chemistry , chemistry , copolymer , organic chemistry , medicine , pathology
To enhance the water absorbency of wood fibers, various acrylic monomers were grafted to these fibers using cerium IV initiation followed by base hydrolysis. The absorbent capacity of hydrolyzed methyl acrylate‐ or acrylonitrile‐grafted wood pulp fibers was an order of magnitude greater than ungrafted pulp fibers. A portion of this enhanced absorbency could be attributed to graft‐induced osmotic forces. Enhanced absorbency was relatively independent of wood fiber type. Paper handsheets incorporating 20% grafted fibers had a fivefold increase in absorbent capacity, a twofold increase in dry tensile strength, a threefold or greater increase in wet tensile strength, and were more stretchable. In addition to enhanced absorbent capacity, the rate of absorbency was approximately 50% greater. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65:1463–1469, 1997