Journal of Polymers and the Environment, Vol. 10, No. 4, October 2002 (q 2002) Effect of Additives on the Improvement of Mechanical and Degradable Properties of Photografted Jute Yarn with Acrylamide M. Masudul Hassan, 1 M. Rabiul Islam, 1 and Mubarak A. Khan 2,3 The jute yarn was grafted with acrylamide monomer (AA) under ultraviolet (UV) radiation to modify its mechanical and degradable properties. A number of AA solutions of different concentrations in methanol (MeOH) along with photoinitiator Irgacure 907 [2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2- morpholinopropanone-1] were prepared. The monomer concentration and irradiation time were optimized. Jute yarn grafted with 30% AA under UV radiation for 60 min showed of the highest polymer loading (PL) value of 22% with a enhanced tensile strength (TS) value of 195% and elongation at break (Eb) value of 256% compared to untreated jute yarn. To further improve the properties of jute yarn, a number of additives (1%) such as urea, polyvinylpyrrolidone, urethane acrylate, and urethane diacrylate were used in the AA (30%) solution. Among all the additives used, urea significantly influenced the PL (27%), TS (230%), and Eb (264%) values of the treated jute yarns. Water uptake and the degradation properties of treated and untreated jute yarn caused by simulated weathering and in soil (25% water) were also studied. The rate of degradation of grafted sample is lower then that of untreated sample. DSC studies showed the thermal stability of the AA plus urea grafted sample. KEY WORDS: Jute; photografting; UV radiation; mechanical properties; biodegradable. INTRODUCTION raw material for packaging materials for the last 200 years. Hessian, gunny bags, wool packs, carpet backing, Jute is a vegetable fiber derived from the barks of mats, wall cover, and tarpaulins are all traditional jute an annual plant grown mainly the subtropical areas of commodities. The three-dimensional structure of jute Southeast Asia, particularly in Bangladesh and India. This fiber is built up with cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin fiber is commercially extracted from varieties of bast [1]. Lignin is a phenolic component generally resistant fiber Corchoras capsularies (white jute), C. olitorious to microbial degradation, but the fiber is susceptible to (tossa jute), Hibiscus cannabinus, and H. sabdariffa by the cellulose enzyme after chemical treatment. Cellulose retting through microbial action. Jute has been used as a is a hydrophilic glucan polymer comprising a linear chain of 1,4-b-bonded anhydroglucose units with OH groups. 1 Department of Chemistry, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, The hydroxyl groups in the cellulose structure account Bangladesh, India. 2 Radiation and Polymer Chemistry Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear for the hydrophilic nature [2], which is one of the draw- Science and Technology, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, backs of the jute fiber. Lignocellulosic jute fiber is very P.O. Box 3787, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh, India. harsh, having high tensile strength with low elongation 3 To whom all correspondence should be addressed. Tel: 880-2-7217634; Fax: 880-28613051; E-mail: makhan@bangla.net at break [3]. Jute is also biodegradable, thermally degrad- 139 1566-2543/02/1000-0139/0 q 2002 Plenum Publishing Corporation