Chemical modification of the surface of cellulosic fibres. 2. Introduction of alkenyl moieties via condensation reactions involving isocyanate functions

Various cellulosic substrates including powders, long fibres and sheets were treated with isocyanates bearing an alkenyl function in a non-swelling medium. These heterogeneous reactions introduced a small but significant number of polymerizable moieties at the surface of the cellulose. In a second step, the free radical polymerization of styrene or methyl methacrylate was carried out in the presence of these modified cellulosics. It was shown that the alkenyl functions appended onto their surface took part in the chain growth thus giving a continuous path of covalent bonds between the solid substrate and the polymer matrix. 0969-0239 (C) 1998 Blackie Academic & Professional.