We have explored the radical initiated graft polymerization reaction of acrylamide onto starch where the solvent, concentration, temperature and reaction times were varied.  We have found that the morphology of the grafted polymer changes with reaction conditions.  When the reaction is carried out in water, there is on average one polyacrylamide graft (MW 485,000) per 2300 glucose units.  When the reaction is carried out in DMSO, there is on average one polyacrylamide graft (MW 48,000) per 260 glucose units.  While there are many complex interactions, reaction temperature had a consistent impact on the molecular weight (higher temperature gave lower MW) and the number of glucose units in between grafts on the starch (higher temperature gave higher grafts).  Increasing the amount of initiator reduced the graft molecular weight and decreased the number of glucose units between grafted polyacrylamides on the starch.

Impact of reaction conditions on grafting acrylamide onto starch

245th National Meeting (2013)

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