AbstractMethods for initiating the free radical graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate onto wood pulp were investigated. Processes considered were all carried out in water slurries of the cellulose, for simplicity and low cost. Of the methods studied only three provided high conversions of monomer to polymer and reasonably good grafting efficiencies. These are ceric ion initiation, a redox reaction with ferrous ion and hydrogen peroxide, and initiation by potassium permanganate/nitric acid mixtures. The ferrous ion/peroxide redox system appears to be the best procedure overall, since it is inexpensive and environmentally innocuous. The best grafting frequency obtained was about one graft per 800 anhydroglucose units in the cellulose. High molecular weight poly(methyl methacrylate) polymers were made, with the grafted species larger than the corresponding homopolymers.
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