Graft Copolymerization of Acrylonitrile on Chemically Modified Sisal Fibers

Graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) on chemically modified sisal fibers was studied using a combination of NaIO4 and CuSO4 as initiator in an aqueous medium in the temperature range of 50–70°C. Effects of reaction medium, variation of time and temperature, concentration of CuSO4, NaIO4 and AN, and the amount of sisal fiber on the percentage of graft yield have been investigated. Water absorption (%) and tensile properties such as tensile strength, Young's modulus and extension at break of untreated, chemically modified and AN-grafted sisal fibers were evaluated and compared. FTIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the chemically modified and AN-grafted sisal fibers have been carried out.