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Graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers onto silk fibers initiated by a semiconductor‐based photocatalyst
Author(s) -
Ojah Raju,
Dolui Swapan K.
Publication year - 2007
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/app.25986
Subject(s) - copolymer , materials science , polymer chemistry , thermogravimetry , cadmium sulfide , monomer , ethylene glycol , differential scanning calorimetry , grafting , chemical engineering , polymer , composite material , engineering , metallurgy , physics , thermodynamics
Graft copolymerization onto silk ( Bombyx mori ) was carried out with vinyl monomers (methyl methacrylate and acrylamide) and initiated by a semiconductor‐based photocatalyst (cadmium sulfide). The utility of a semiconductor as an initiator in free‐radical photografting and the effects of ethylene glycol and triethylamine with cadmium sulfide on graft copolymerization were explored. Depending on the reaction conditions, 10–48% grafting with methyl methacrylate and 4–26% grafting with acrylamide were achieved. The reaction conditions were optimized, and the grafted fibers were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry analysis, and tensile strength measurements. The chemical resistance and water absorption of the grafted fibers were compared with those ungrafted fibers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007