A highly efficient and environmentally friendly graft polymerization method of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto cotton was performed using an alkyl zinc initiator in an emulsion system. Using this method, a high-molecular weight (Mw > 106) polymer was grafted onto a cotton fiber with a high graft yield at ambient temperature. The grafted cotton fiber was characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, and SEM. Furthermore, the grafted cotton produced by this novel method that involved modifying the surface of the cotton improved its compatibility with a number of organic solvents.
- Chao Zhao
- Hiromu Okada
- Ryuichi Sugimoto