Graft polymerization of different monomers onto carbamated starches derived from native and hydrolyzed starches

Rice starch was hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid so that starches would be obtained with different molecular sizes. The derived hydrolyzed starches were carbamated at various reaction times and were grafted with different monomers with a potassium permanganate/citric acid system as an initiator. The newly tailored starch‐derived products were evaluated as sizing agents. The extent of carbamation increased with increasing hydrolysis and increasing reaction time. The graft yields of different monomers on carbamated starches and carbamated hydrolyzed starches increased with increasing carbamation and increasing hydrolysis in the following order: acrylamide > acrylonitrile > acrylic acid. Cotton fabrics sized with grafted carbamated hydrolyzed starches acquired higher mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break, and abrasion resistance) than hydrolyzed starches, carbamated starches, and carbamated hydrolyzed starches.