Radiation-induced reactions with cellulose. VII. Effect of temperature and substituted styrenes in the copolymerization process

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the radiation-induced grafting of styrene to cellulose has been studied. The system cellulose-styrene-methanol was examined in the temperature range from 40° to -196° in order to observe possible ionic contributions to the reaction mechanism. This effect was further investigated using a series of substituted styrenes containing both electron-donating and electron- withdrawing substituents. The 17 monomers used included o-, m-, and p-mono- halogenated styrenes, a number of alkylstyrenes and the p-methoxy derivative. An attempt has been made to correlate the grafting results with the Hammett constants for the substituent. The consumption of monomer during grafting of styrene to cellulose has also been investigated.