AbstractThe molecular weight distribution of poly‐methyl methacrylate (poly‐MMA) chains separated from MMA‐grafted silk fibers obtained by using potassium persulfate (KPS) and tri‐n‐butylborane (TBB) as initiator of the graft‐copolymerization reaction have been examined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). GPC elution pattern of poly‐MMA chains shows a bimodal molecular weight distribution. The two peaks have been identified as heavy and light component. The average molecular weight of the heavy component ranges from 48.5 to 200 kD for poly‐MMA copolymerized by the KPS reaction system and from 336 to 816 kD for the poly‐MMA copolymerized by the TBB reaction system. The light component has an average molecular weight lower than 1,000 D and its value is almost similar in all the samples examined. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed the presence of MMA oligomers formed on the fiber surface during grafting. The molar ratio between poly‐MMA chains and silk fibroin attains a constant value that seems to be specific for a certain reaction system. A linear correlation has been observed between the weight gain and the average molecular weight of the poly‐MMA chains. These findings suggest the effect of grafting parameters on the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the grafted polymer, as well as its influence on the physical properties and textile performances of MM
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