Grafting vinyl monomers onto wool fibers. V. Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto wool using peroxydiphosphate as initiator

Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto wool was investigated in aqueous solution using potassium peroxydiphosphate as initiator. The rate of grafting was determined by varying monomer, peroxydiphosphate ion, temperature, solvent, and nature of wool. The graft yield increases with increase in monomer concentration. The graft yield increases significantly by increasing peroxydiphosphate ion up to 80 × 10 −4 mole/l.; with further increase of peroxydiphosphate ion the graft yield decreases. The rate of grafting increases with increase in temperature. The effect of acid‐and water‐soluble solvents on the rate of grafting was investigated and a suitable rate expression has been derived.