Graft copolymerization of wool using some acrylate monomers. II. Thermal behaviour of copolymers

Thermal behaviour of natural wool and wool grafted with methylacrylate, ethylacrylate, n‐butylacrylate, and methylmethacrylate was studied using dynamic thermogravimetry in air up to a temperature of 575°C at a heating rate of 6°C per minute. The thermal stabilities of the samples grafted to various percentages of graft‐on were compared from their initial decomposition temperature (IDT), their integral procedural decomposition temperature (IPDT), and their activation energy values for decomposition. The thermal stability was found to be better in methyl‐ and ethylacrylate grafted wool with low graft‐on as compared to that of natural wool; but at higher graft‐on thermal stability decreased. In butylacrylate and methylmethacrylate grafted samples, thermal stability did not change significantly as compared to that of natural wool.