Grafting vinyl monomers onto silk fibers, I. Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto silk by quinquevalent vanadium ions

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto silk fibers was investigated in aqueous solution using quinquevalent vanadium as initiator. The rate of grafting was determined by varying monomer, acidity of the medium, temperature, nature of silk, and reaction medium. The graft yield increases significantly by increasing monomer concentration. The graft yield increases with increase of [V5+] up to 0,01 M. With further increase of [V5+] the graft yield decreases. The grafting is considerably influenced by chemical modification prior to grafting. The effect of some inorganic salts and anionic surfactant on the rate of grafting has been investigated.