A STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF ACETYLATION ON HEMP FIBRES WITH VINYL ACETATE

Chemical modifications of hemp fibers were performed with acetic anhydride (AA) and vinyl acetate (VA) in the presence of pyridine or potassium carbonate as catalysts. Hemp fibers (Cannabis sativa) were successfully acetylated by VA in the presence of potassium carbonate (15% WPG), but no weight gain was obtained when pyridine was used as catalyst. Hemp fibers were also modified with acetic anhydride (AA) in the presence of potassium carbonate and pyridine as catalyst (14% and 16% WPG, respectively) under identical conditions, and the results were compared with those obtained using the VA technique. AA-modified, VA-modified, and control hemp fibers were characterized by Infrared (FTIR), C-13 CP MAS NMR and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA).