Grafting onto wool. III. Graft copolymerization of poly(vinyl acetate) by use of fenton's reagent as initiator

Abstract

Abstract In an attempt to modify fibrous protein, poly(vinyl acetate) has been graft copolymerized onto Himachali wool in an aqueous medium by using Fenton's reagent as redox initiator. Graft copolymerizations were carried out at 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45°C for a period of 3 hr. Percentage grafting was found to be dependent upon reaction temperature, concentration of monomers, and the molar ratio of [H 2 O 2 ]/[Fe +2 ]. Maximum grafting occurred at 45°C with a molar ratio of [H 2 O 2 ]/[Fe +2 ] = 1.43. A small amount of grafting (2.6–2.8%) occurred when grafting was effected at 45°C in the presence of Fe +2 alone.