14—DEPOSITION OF VINYL POLYMERS IN WOOL PART I: THE EFFECT OF SOME FACTORS ON THE AMOUNT OF POLYMER DEPOSITED

Abstract

The significance of eight factors on the yield of polyacrylonitrile polymerized in situ within wool fibres by means of the ferrous-ion-hydrogen peroxide initiatory system has been investigated by a series of experiments. A statistical analysis of the results shows the yield to be significantly affected by the concentration of monomer, the time and temperature of polymerization, the pH and concentration of ferrous ions, and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. In addition, it is shown tbat an interaction exists between the concentration of ferrous ions and the time of reaction. A formula is suggested to predict the polymer yield from the values of the six significant factors. The polymer yield may be predicted by the formula: Y = 7·54 × 10⁻⁴ {e^0.004T [M]^1.36 time^0.7 pH^0.3 [H₂O₂]^0.34 [Fe⁺⁺]^0.34}.