A Novel Method of Polymerizing Acrylic Monomers on Wool

Abstract

It has been found that acrylic monomers may be readily and selectively polymerized inside wool fibers in the presence of peroxydisulphates by the use of cupric and other transition metal ions in the higher valency state. The process has the advantage of producing high polymer "add on" values at any pH between 2 and 10 or higher without the need for oxygen exclusion or special reducing agents. Wool whiteness may be preserved by the addition of formaldehyde, while induction time effects can be controlled by the addition of sodium metabisulphite. The treated wool may be dyed with selected basic dyes suitable for dyeing acrylic fibers to give brilliant shades with a light fastness comparable with that obtained on such fibers.