TITLE:
Grafting Methyl Methacrylate onto Silk via Emulsion Graft Copolymerization Using a Diethylzinc Complex Initiator
AUTHORS:
C. Zhao, H. Okada, M. Asakawa, R. Sugimoto, K. Yoshino
KEYWORDS:
Polymer Synthesis, Silk, Graft Polymerization, Emulsion, Diethylzinc
JOURNAL NAME:
Green and Sustainable Chemistry,
Vol.9 No.4,
October
12,
2019
ABSTRACT: Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was grafted onto silk fiber in a one-step
emulsion system using a diethylzinc and 1,10-phenanthroline complex. The
reaction conditions were investigated by varying temperature and initiator to
monomer ratio. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum, thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEC) techniques were used to
characterize the structure, thermal stability, and surface morphology of the obtained
product, respectively. Grafting of MMA onto silk increased the thermal
stability of silk. The FTIR spectrum and SEM images provided further evidence
that MMA has been successfully grafted onto the silk fiber. A peak ascribed to
the C=O stretching vibration of MMA was detected in the FTIR spectrum of
grafted silk fiber, which was not present in the spectrum of pure silk fiber.
Moreover, the SEM images illustrated the increase in diameter and surface
roughness of grafted silk compared with pure silk. Lastly, the dyeing performance
of the modified silk was significantly increased.