Radiation‐grafting of acrylic acid onto ultrahigh molecular, high‐strength polyethylene fibers

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Abstract
Radiation‐induced grafting of acrylic acid onto ultrahigh molecular weight (UHMW) high‐strength polyethylene fibers to impart heat resistance and dyeability was undertaken. A preirradiation method was employed for grafting in an aqueous solution of acrylic acid containing a small amount of Mohr's salt as inhibitor. The grafting rate for UHMW high‐strength polyethylene fibers is one‐tenth of that for high‐density polyethylene fibers currently in use, and one‐hundredth, for high‐density polyethylene film. It has become clear that the preirradiation dose should be as low as 1 Mrad to keep the high strength of the starting fibers. The starting UHMW high‐strength polyethylene fiber begins to shrink remarkably at around 145°C, showing a maximum shrinkage of 90%, and then breaks at 154°C. When a 24% acrylic acid graft is converted to calcium salt, the grafted fiber retains the fiber form even at 300°C and gives only a maximum shrinkage of 11%. The less than 1% acrylic acid graft UHMW high‐strength polyethylene fibers and their calcium salt can be dyed to a deep shade with cationic dyes, whereas the starting fibers cannot be dyed with usual dyes including the cationic dye. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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