Structure and properties of cellulose graft copolymers. I. Radiation‐induced rayon–styrene graft copolymer

Abstract Rayon–styrene graft copolymers were prepared by the direct radiation method, with the use of the preswelling technique, by irradiation with γ‐rays from 60Co. The grafting was carried out in bulk styrene and in styrene–solvent mixtures, such as styrene–methanol and styrene–acetone, to study their effect on the graft copolymerization reaction and the structure of the resulting graft copolymer. The effects of carbon tetrachloride, a chain‐transfer agent, was also investigated. Three different types of rayon yarn were used; Fortisan, a modifier‐type high wet‐modulus rayon, and a high‐tenacity tire yarn, in order to study the effect of rayon microstructure on the grafting reaction. The molecular structure of the rayon–styrene graft copolymers was studied by hydrolyzing away the cellulose backbone and measuring the molecular weights of the grafted polystyrene branches. For grafting in bulk styrene, the molecular weights of the grafted polystyrene ranged from 400,000 to 1,000,000, while those of the polystyrene homopolymer formed in the outside solution were of the order of 30,000–50,000. The molecular weights of the grafted polystyrene branches tended to increase with per cent grafting in the graft copolymer. For grafting in styrene–methanol and styrene–acetone mixtures, the molecular weights of the polystyrene branches decreased with increasing solvent content. The addition of carbon tetrachloride to bulk styrene resulted in a sharp decrease in the molecular weights of the grafted branches. The grafting frequency or number of polystyrene branches per cellulose chain was calculated from the per cent grafting and the molecular weights of the polystyrene branches. The morphology of the rayon–styrene graft copolymers and some of their physical properties are discussed.