Adhesion of starch-g-poly( 2-acryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) to cotton and polyester fibers

A series of starch-g-poly(2-acryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) (starch-g-PATAC) samples with different grafting ratios was prepared via the graft copolymerization of acid-thinned granular corn starch with 2-acryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (ATAC) in aqueous medium using Fe2+-H2O2 initiator. The adhesion of starch-g-PATAC to cotton and polyester fibers was investigated for warp sizing. Influence of the positively charged branches grafted onto backbones of starch upon the adhesion was revealed. It was found that the branches showed positive effect on the adhesion. Starch-g-PATAC possessed stronger adhesion than its counterpart. Zeta potential, surface tension, and contact angle measurements were performed to find the reason for the alteration in the adhesion. In addition, cooked starch-g-PATAC paste was stable in apparent viscosity under high temperature. Using alkali-oxidant agent desizing, starch-g-PATAC was desizable when its grafting ratio was no more than 7.5%. Positively charged branch-grafted starches showed their potential as size base materials in warp sizing operation.