MODIFICATION OF COTTON WITH ACRYLONITRILE BY RADIATION POLYMERIZATION

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1963 · J. Appl. Polymer Sci.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/app.1963.070070133· OSTI ID:4709284

Saunders, F L; Sovish, R C

The modification of cellulose (cotton fabric or yarn) was carried out with acrylonitrile under ionizing radiation. Irradiation of the cotton in aqueous acrylonitrile solutions with gamma or electron radiation produces a modified cotton with improved rot and mildew resistance similar to that of cyanoethylated cotton. Strength properties are not significantly affected, provided the radiation dose is less than 5 Mrads. The pickup of acrylonitrile by cotton depends on monomer concentration, dose. and dose rate. It was also observed that water was necessary to give the desired uniform modification. Doses of 0.5 to 1.5 Mrads produced modifications in the range of 8 to 15%. Dose rate effects are present at low doses, where pickup decreases with increasing dose rate. Above 5 Mrads, dose rate effects are minimized. Although the data do not show whether actual grafting is occurring with the cellulose, either directly from radiation or through oxidative products formed in the water, or whether the cellulose is being swollen with the aqueous monomer solution which is then intimately polymerized by, radiation fragments resulting from the radiation, it is apparent that polymer is formed uniformly upon or within the cellulose structure and that it cannot be removed by solvent extraction. As a result of the modification, the solubility of the cellulose in its usual solvents is decreased and other properties are modified, especially rot resistance, which is improved. Modification of cotton with monomers other than acrvlonitrile was also considered. Pickups of styrene, acrylic acid, methyl isopropenyl ketone, ethyl acrylate, and methyl methacrylate were obtained from methanol-water solutions. (auth)

• Research Organization: Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-018877
• OSTI ID: 4709284
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Polymer Sci., Journal Name: J. Appl. Polymer Sci. Vol. Vol: 7
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACRYLIC ACID
ADSORPTION
CELLULOSE
COTTON
CYANIDES
ELECTRON BEAMS
ETHYL RADICALS
ETHYLENE
EXPANSION
GAMMA RADIATION
IONIZATION
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
METHANOL
METHYL RADICALS
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
SOLUBILITY
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
STABILITY
STYRENE
TEXTILES
WATER