Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate onto Starch Using Potassium Ditelluratocuprate(III)

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto starch with potassium ditelluratocuprate(III) (DTC)–starch redox system as initiator was studied in alkaline medium. The grafting parameters have been determined as a function of temperature, ratio of monomer to starch, initiator concentration, and pH. The structure of the graft copolymers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x‐ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The thermal stability of starch and starch‐g‐PMMA were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was found that the DTC–starch system is an efficient redox initiator for this graft copolymerization. A reaction mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of radicals and the initiation.