AbstractGraft polymerization of acrylic acid to poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers using H2O2as initiator was only possible in benzyl alcohol as reaction medium. The effect of initiator and monomer concentrations, reaction time, and temperature as well as addition of metallic salts to the polymerization medium was studied. Percent grafting was enhanced significantly by increasing H2O2concentrations up to 100 mequiv/L and then decreased upon further increase in initiator concentration. The same held true for acrylic acid concentration of up to 10, but above this concentration grafting leveled off. Raising the polymerization temperature from 85 to 115°C favored grafting at lower H2O2concentration. The reverse was the case at higher H2O2concentration (more than 25 mequiv/L). Addition of copper sulfate to the polymerization medium decreased the rate of grafting, and no leveling off of grafting could be achieved even after 5 h. The ferrous ammonium sulfate functioned similarly but to lesser degree, and leveling off of grafting occurred after 4 h. This contrasted with grafting in the absence of metallic salts where grafting leveled off after 1 h. Action of initial graft formation as diffusion barrier is believed to account for this
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