Thermal behavior of cotton grafted with vinyl monomers individually and in mixture compositions

Abstract

Thermal analysis of cotton samples grafted with acrylamide, acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, and methyl methacrylate individually and in mixture compositions has been carried out. Additional endothermic peaks in the DTA curves characteristic of the polymers grafted were observed. Graft copolymerization of acrylamide and acrylonitrile makes cotton thermally more stable, while in the case of methyl acrylate-and methyl methacrylate-grafted cottons, the initial decomposition starts at higher temperatures, but subsequent decomposition is faster and the overall thermal stability is lowered. In the case of binary mixtures of acrylamide and acrylonitrile, inception of decomposition starts earlier, but subsequent decomposition takes place at much higher temperatures than for individual monomer-grafted cottons. Interaction between monomers during grafting is indicated. When fabric samples containing polyacrylamide grafts are methylolated and subsequently cross-linked, there is a reduction in the thermal stability of the treated cotton.