Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate to poly(vinyl alcohol) initiated by ferric ion‐hydrogen peroxide system

TLDR: In this paper, the graft copolymerization taking place on adding methyl methacrylate to the above system was studied, and it was found that the reaction was quantitatively proportional to the formation of carbonyl groups in the sample.

Abstract: The reaction occurring on treatment of samples of poly(vinyl alcohol) previously oxidized by sodium hypochlorite with ferric ion and hydrogen peroxide was studied. The graft copolymerization taking place on adding methyl methacrylate to the above system was also studied. Early in the reaction there was a period during which hydrogen peroxide was greatly reduced by the poly(vinyl alcohol), and this corresponded with a rapid cleavage reaction of the main chain of the polymer. Moreover, it was found that the reaction was quantitatively proportional to the formation of carbonyl groups in the sample. On the other hand, very few grafts were scarcely formed during this period; they formed by a mild reaction which took place immediately after this period. It seems that this behavior is quite different from that observed with the ceric ion initiating system. It is presumed that the formation of grafts is due to radicals formed by the cleavage of the main chain, and that the structure of the copolymer so formed is something like a block polymer.