Studies on graft polymerization onto glass fibers. II. Graft copolymerization of glass fiber having pendent mercaptan groups and its application

Graft polymerization of styrene using a glass fiber having pendent mercaptan groups was carried out under nitrogen in sealed tubes. The percent grafting appeared to increase with monomer concentration, and also to depend to a large extent on the initiator concentration. When CHPO was used as initiator, the percent grafting was maximum at the initiator concentration of 0.02 mol/L. The percent grafting saturation values decreased with increase in the temperature of polymerization. Chain transfer constants and grafting efficiency, both calculated from the equation of Fox et al., were compared with the experimental results. The absorption of Ag ion increased with increase in the percent grafting, and a maximum appeared at a solution pH of 4.0.