Modification of Natural Biomass by Graft Copolymerization

Natural biomasses such as natural fibers have been traditionally used as reinforcement in polymer biocomposites for structural applications. However, the resulting biocomposites are sensitive to harsh environmental conditions, which results in poorer properties in the biocomposites. Therefore, in the present study an attempt has been made to modify the surface properties of natural cellulosic biomass by the graft copolymerization technique. This article discusses the synthesis, characterization, and physicochemical properties of the raw and graft copolymerized natural cellulosic biomass. Cellulosic biomass–based grafted copolymers were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT-IR spectrophotometry, and thermal analysis (TGA) techniques.