Gamma Ray-Induced Graft Copolymerization of Styrene onto Bleached Jute Yarn

Abstract

When styrene was heated at 60° C in the presence of bleached jute containing 80% water, the rate of homopolymerization increased a little compared with that in the absence of water or jute, but substantial grafting of polystyrene onto the jute occurred. When water was not added to jute, the percent grafting was very small. With increasing amount of added water, grafting increased gradually to a maximum at 80-100% water on jute and then fell off somewhat with more water. This is assumed to be due to the formation of a barrier by water to the diffusion of styrene into the jute

Pre-irradiation of bleached jute containing 80% water with increasing doses of gamma radiation decreased the amount of grafting on subsequent heating at 60° and 80°C. This phenomenon is peculiar to cellulosic materials containing some amount of lignin.

When bleached jute containing 80% water and the styrene were separately pre- irradiated and subsequently heated together, grafting onto bleached jute increased steadily with time and was greater than in cases where the components were not pre-irradiated or only the bleached jute was pre-irradiated. when only the styrene was pre-irradiated. thermal grafting was very great even greater than that in simultaneous grafting.