Vinyl polymerization. 170. Grafting of some acrylates and methacrylates onto cellulose and silk in absence of radical initiators

The polymerization and copolymerization of various acrylates and methacrylates in presence of cellulose or silk and water were studied without radical initiators. The polymerization of methacrylates proceeded more easily than that of acrylates, and in general the grafting was much higher onto silk than cellulose. It was also found that methyl methacrylate could be grafted onto OH‐group containing synthetic copolymers. Both optical and electron microscopic observations were made on the methyl methacrylate‐grafted silks.