Graft Copolymerization of N-ISO Propylacrylamide on Cellulose Film Induced by UV-Irradiation and its Characterization

• Main Author: Irwan Ginting Suka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universitas Indonesia 2010-04-01
• Series: Makara Seri Sains
• Subjects: cellulose film; N-isopropylacrylamide; organic solvents; photografting; temperature-responsive character
• Online Access: http://journal.ui.ac.id/science/article/view/460

The effect of monomer and initiator concentrations, graft polymerization temperature, polymerization system and organic solvents on photografting of N-isopropylacrylamide on regenerated cellulose films (thickness = 20 µm) in UV irradiation were investigated. The higher percentage of grafting was afforded for the system with the higher monomer and initiator concentration. The photografting initiated even in the system at 30°C by using a longer irradiation time. It was found that the maximum percentage of grafting was attained at 2.5 (%Vol) of methanol/acetone in the mixed solvent. The resulting NIPAAm-grafted cellulose films were characterized by attenuated total-reflection IR spectroscopy, showed a peak at 1640 and 1550 cm-1 due to the amide groups of the NIPAAm-grafted chains. According to scanning electron microscopy characterization, the grafted chains was found to distribute inside the film sample even in the grafted films with lower percentage of grafting. The grafted samples showing a temperature-responsive character swelling and shrinking in water at 5°C and 50°C, respectively.