Title: Homogeneous Graft Copolymerization of Vinyl Monomers onto Cellulose in a Dimethyl Sulfoxide–Paraformaldehyde Solvent System IV. 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate
Abstract: The homogeneous graft copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) onto cellulose was carried out under various conditions. Ammonium persulfate (APS), potassium persulfate (KPS), and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) were used as radical initiators. The optimum grafting condition, the molecular weight of graft polymer, and the number of grafts per cellulose chain for each initiator system were determined as functions of polymerization temperature and concentration of monomer, initiator, and cellulose. Grafting onto cellulose proceeded in the APS and KPS systems, but hardly in the AIBN system. The molecular weight of graft polymer increased with increasing monomer and cellulose concentration but decreased with increasing temperature and initiator concentration. The number of grafts was found to be 5 and 0.2 at most for the APS and AIBN systems, respectively. KPS was found to be unsuitable as a grafting initiator owing to the degradation of the cellulose chains.