EFFECT OF GRAFTING WITH NITRILE MONOMERS ONTO JUTE CONSTITUENTS INITIATED BY THE KMnO4/H2SO4 REDOX SYSTEM

The potassium permanganate/suphuric acid redox system, inducing graft polymerization of acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile with bleached jute fiber, was Studied in all aqueous medium. To make the process efficient, the optimization of various grafting parameters was carried out. The maximum graft yield and grafting efficiency values attained under optimized conditions were of 34.5% and 6.4%., respectively, for AN, and of 38.9% and 8.8% for MAN. The bleaching of jute fiber, as well as the dewaxing and depectinizing, increased the graft yield. The decrease in the amount of lignin ill the jute fiber increased the graft yield, which clearly indicated the hindering effect of lignin with nitrile monomers. Infrared spectroscopy analysis was carried out, to evidence polymer grafting. The grafting of jute decreased its dyeability, improved its thermal stability, assured protection against photo-chemical and photo-oxidative degradations., along with a somewhat positive impact on colour fastness.