title: Atom transfer radical polymerization from cellulose fibers at ambient temperature.
abstract: Cellulose fibers have been successfully grafted with poly(methyl acrylate) using atom transfer radical polymerization, mediated by Me6-TREN and Cu(I)Br at ambient temperature. The initially hydrophilic cellulose was first modified by reacting the hydrozyl groups with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide whereupon methyl acrylate was grafted from the surface. The resulting polymer-grafted papers were extremely hydrophobic, thetaa = 133 degrees . FT-IR analysis indicates that the amount of grafted polymer can be controlled by adding sacrificial initiator to the polymerizing system. Size exclusion chromatography of the bulk polymer revealed narrow polydispersities and a molecular weight corresponding to the ratio [M]:[I].
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Technology, Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlmark
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Malmström