Grafting Vinyl Monomers onto Wool Fibers. X. Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate onto Wool Using Acetylacetonato Complex of Manganese(lII)

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto wool fibers was investigated in aqueous solution using the acetylacetonato complex of manganese(III). The rate of grafting was determined by varying the monomer, the complex, the temperature, the acidity of the medium, the nature of the wool, and the reaction medium. The graft yield increases with increasing monomer and complex concentrations. The graft yield also increases with increasing temperature. The grafting is considerably influenced by chemical modification of wool prior to grafting. A suitable mechanism has been proposed and a rate equation has been derived.