Pre-irradiation grafting of cellulose and slightly carboxymethylated cellulose (CMC) fibres

Acrylamide, hydroxypropyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl methacrylate and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate vinyl monomers were grafted onto cellulose as well as onto cellulose of improved accessibility (slightly carboxymethylated cellulose (CMC)) by the pre-irradiation grafting technique. The effect of dose, monomer structure, crosslinking agent and carboxymethylation on the grafting yield was studied and the optimal conditions for the grafting were established. Grafting, with the exception of acrylamide (AAm), decreased the swelling of the samples, which is advantageous for some applications. In case of AAm decrease in swelling was observed only when crosslinking agent was applied. At low doses (<5 kGy) the high accessibility of carboxymethylated cellulose resulted in a higher grafting yield.