Graft copolymers from cellulose: Synthesis, characterization and evaluation

Cellulose, a linear polysaccharide polymer with numerous glucose monosaccharide units is of enormous interest because of its applications in biosorption, biomedical, packaging, biofiltration and biocomposites. In this study, cellulose-graft-poly(butyl acrylate) copolymers were synthesized under microwave conditions. Effects of microwave radiation doses and different reaction parameters were optimized to get the optimum percentage of grafting. The dependence of optimum conditions for better physico-chemical properties of the cellulosic polymers was also determined. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis was used to authenticate the chemical reaction taking place between cellulosic polymers and monomer. The thermogravimetric behavior of the raw and grafted cellulosic polymers was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The surface structure of the raw and grafted cellulosic polymers was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The graft copolymers have been found to be more moisture resistant and also showed better chemical and thermal resistance.