Functionalization of cellulose with epoxy groups via gamma-initiated RAFT-mediated grafting of glycidyl methacrylate

Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), was grafted from cellulose by the combination of radiation-induced initiation and the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization technique, leading to epoxy functionalized surfaces that enable further modifications. Cumyl dithiobenzoate and 2-cyanoprop-2-yl dithiobenzoate were employed as the RAFT agents. The effects of absorbed dose, monomer and RAFT agent concentrations and solvent choice on grafting yield were investigated. Characterization of the synthesized copolymers by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis and contact angle measurements revealed the grafting of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) from cellulose. Size-exclusion chromatography analysis indicated the difficulty of controlling the polymerization of GMA due to branching and/or crosslinking reactions that might occur in PGMA structure under gamma-radiation.