Graft Copolymerization of Butyl Acrylate onto Gelatin in the Presence of Ceric Ion

Abstract

The graft copolymerization of butyl acrylate (BA) onto gelatin with ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as redox initiator in an aqueous medium has been studied. The products were characterized by IR. The effects of various reaction parameters, including reaction time and temperature, concentrations of gelatin, monomer, initiator, and nitric acid, on the percentage of grafting, the grafting efficiency, and the rate of graft copolymerization were studied systematically. The influences of some inorganic salts, organic additives, and the emulsifier were also investigated. The disappearing rate of Ce(IV) during the period of reaction was observed. The activation energy of graft copolymerization, homo-polymerization, and total polymerization were calculated. The reaction mechanism is discussed, and rate equations of the reaction are proposed.