Mutual irradiation graft copolymerization of acrylic acid on to nylon-6 via liquid and vapour phases

Liquid phase and vapour phase grafting of acrylic acid on to nylon-6 were performed by the mutual irradiation technique. Liquid phase direct irradiation grafting was carried out in air either in the presence or in the absence of redox salt. The redox salt led to a sharp increase in the grafting yield and prevented excessive homopolymerization of acrylic acid. The effects of total dose, solvent type and composition, and monomer concentration on the direct grafting in the liquid and vapour phases were studied The data indicate that, if conditions were kept fixed, the vapour phase technique gives rise to lower grafting yields than the liquid phase method.