Radiation-induced graft copolymerization of methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate onto polyester

The radiation-induced graft polymerization of methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate onto a polyester fabric was investigated with gamma ray as the radiation source, and the rate of grafting was examined. When acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and methyl methacrylate were grafted onto a polyester fabric, grafting efficiency was depended upon the dielectric constant of the solvent in the monomer mixture. The yield of the graft polymerization was related to the total dose, the concentration of the monomer, and the concentration of the swelling agent. The melting point and the glass transition temperature of MA and MMA grafted copolymers were analysed by means of DTA. Physical properties, such as the moisture regain, the antistatic property, and the wicking time were measured. (author)