Abstract
An improved efficient method for grafting of mercerized cellulose with acrylonitrile, acylamide, 4-vinylpyridine and styrene monomers using dibenzoyl peroxide (DBPO) as an initiator was studied. The results show that the order of the reactivity of the monomers is styrene > 4- vinyl pyridine > acrylonitrile > acrylamide. Under optimal conditions, the extent of graft copolymerization of styrene onto cellulose has shown a substantial increasing trend. The percentages of grafting yield (G.Y.%), grafting efficiency (G.E.%), IR spectra, and X-ray diffraction were measured. The I t was shown that X-ray diffraction spectra of grafted cellulose increases one more peak than that of pure cellulose with a noticeable decrease in crystallinity.