AbstractGrafting of methyl methacrylate onto wool fibers using azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator has been investigated under a variety of conditions. Increasing the monomer concentration caused a significant increase in the graft yields. The same holds good for initiator concentration and reaction time, but to a lower degree. The grafting reaction was favorably influenced considerably by the nature of solvent used; it follows the order methanol>dimethylformamide>benzene. For practical significance, a mixture of water:methanol:DMF (75:24:1) was found to be the most effective medium for grafting. Presence of lithium chloride in the polymerization system favors grafting during the later stages of reaction, whereas presence of ceric sulfate was effective for higher grafting in the initial stages of reaction. Reduction of wool prior to grafting enhanced its ability to grafting; the latter increases in proportion to the thiol content. The opposite holds true for acetylation. Alkali solubility measurements reveal that an interaction between wool and methyl methacrylate in presence of AIBN took place.
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