Surface modification of lyocell fibres by graft copolymerization of thermo-sensitive poly-N-isopropylacrylamide

Thermo-sensitive poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (poly-NIPAAm) was grafted onto lyocell fibres using cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN) as initiator. The effects of initiation time, initiator concentration, monomer concentration and grafting time on the degree of grafting were investigated. A 15–60 min exposure time, 7.5 mM CAN solution concentration and a 0.5–1 mM NIPAAm monomer concentration were optimal for obtaining a maximum degree of grafting (60–70% at 24 h grafting time) of poly-NIPAAm on lyocell fibres. Higher degree of grafting was obtained increasing the grafting time, such as 120% at 72 h. The properties of the obtained poly-NIPAAm/lyocell copolymer were also investigated. Specifically, the effects of temperature and degree of grafting of poly-NIPAAm on the swelling behaviour of the copolymer were experimentally determined. Moreover, structural characterization, thermal behaviour and morphology of the poly-NIPAAm/lyocell copolymers were examined by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differencial Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, respectively.