Formation of polymeric films on cellulosic surfaces by admicellar polymerization

Cellulose fibers suspended in an aqueous medium were placed in contact with increasing amounts of either a cationic or an anionic surfactant. Only the former was adsorbed, forming admicellar morphologies. The addition of alkenyl monomers to these systems and their subsequent polymerization resulted in the formation of polymer both in the aqueous medium and around the fibers. The latter 'coating', which was rather irregular in coverage, produced a strong increase in the hydrophobic character of the cellulosic surface.