Graft Polymerization of 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate onto Plasma Pretreated Cotton, Silk, and Polyester Fibers

Graft polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate was made onto plasma pretreated fabrics of cotton, silk, and polyester. Homopolymerization also took place during the graft polymerization, but the percent of the homopolymer formation was comparatively small. Therefore, kinetic analyses of graft polymerization were undertaken based on the first-order reaction of the monomer. Through a comparison of the rate constants which were obtained from the rate equation of the graft polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, the dependence of plasma pretreatment on various factors and the resulting polymerization were clarified. Polymerizability was compared to that obtained with the Ce(IV) catalyst and without catalysts.