Synthesis and mechanical characterisation of cellulose based textiles grafted with acrylic monomers

Grafting polymerisation of methyl methacrylate and ethyl acrylate onto linen and cotton was carried out in order to reinforce these materials, when they underwent degradation. Take into account this aim, an artificially ageing was performed onto cellulose based textiles by metaperiodate oxidation, in order to obtain degraded model samples. Carbonyl groups were introduced in the cellulose and used as photosensitive agents, allowing the formation of radical sites during the polymerisation reaction, that started by irradiating the substrate by ultraviolet light. In this paper the effectiveness of grafting polymerisation as a method for textile conservation is discussed, starting from the results obtained from several characterisations, as the grafting yields and the grafting efficacy evaluation, the DSC analysis, the FTIR spectroscopy and the SEM observations. Moreover the consolidating and the protective effects were investigated by evaluating the mechanical properties and the wetting behaviour of the grafted samples, and comparing them with the original and aged substrates. The mechanical strength of cellulose based textiles has been improved, as well as the wetting behaviour has been enhanced.