Grafting Methyl Methacrylate onto Silk via Emulsion Graft Copolymerization Using a Diethylzinc Complex Initiator

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was grafted onto silk fiber in a one-step emulsion system using a diethylzinc and 1,10-phenanthroline complex. The reaction conditions were investigated by varying temperature and initiator to monomer ratio. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEC) techniques were used to characterize the structure, thermal stability, and surface morphology of the obtained product, respectively. Grafting of MMA onto silk increased the thermal stability of silk. The FTIR spectrum and SEM images provided further evidence that MMA has been successfully grafted onto the silk fiber. A peak ascribed to the C=O stretching vibration of MMA was detected in the FTIR spectrum of grafted silk fiber, which was not present in the spectrum of pure silk fiber. Moreover, the SEM images illustrated the increase in diameter and surface roughness of grafted silk compared with pure silk. Lastly, the dyeing performance of the modified silk was significantly increased.