GAMMA-RADIATION INDUCED GRAFTING OF ACRYLONITRILE ONTO GUAR GUM - INFLUENCE OF REACTION CONDITIONS ON THE PROPERTIES OF THE GRAFTED AND SAPONIFIED PRODUCTS

In the gamma-radiation induced grafting of acrylonitrile onto guar gum, the influence of different concentrations of the monomer acrylonitrile on the PAN add-on, the number average molecular weight of the PAN side chains, and the grafting frequency of the PAN side chains are reported. At 0.3 Mrad dosage, the PAN add-on were 32.4, 48.5, and 66.2% and the number average molecular weight of the PAN side chains were 59,700, 132,200, and 238,900, respectively, at three different reaction conditions. The frequency of grafting also showed considerable variation at 0.2 Mrad dosage, for all three sets of samples. The viscosity of the aqueous dispersions of the saponified samples at different concentrations are also reported. The water absorbency of the saponified samples were evaluated and the values were around 250 g/g. The fall in viscosity of the aqueous dispersions on storage were also evaluated. The observed fall in viscosity was lower in the case of the product with higher PAN content.