Modification of Jute Fiber with Vinyl Acetate and Methyl Vinyl Ketone for Textile Applications

In the present study, the bleached jute fiber was been modified with Vinyl Acetate (VA) and Methyl Vinyl Ketone (MVK) by graft co-polymerization in an aqueous medium using potassium persulphate as an initiator, under the catalytic influence of FeSO4 in the presence air to improve physicochemical properties. The maximum graft yield and grafting efficiency at the optimized condition for VA and MVK are 26.0%, 11.1% and 10.4%, 3.7% respectively. The graft yield and grafting efficiency of VA-modified fiber were higher than that of MVK-modified field fiber. The grafted fiber was characterized by FTIR, SEM and TGA. FTIR spectra of VA and MVK modified fiber have peaks at 1741cm-1 and 1714cm-1 respectively than the unmodified jute indicating the incorporation of vinyl monomer with the cellulosic jute fiber. By observing thermograms, the degradation temperature of bleached jute fiber was 318.7�C and that for VA and MVK modified fibers was 320�C and 325�C respectively. The breaking strength of bleached fiber was 16.02kg/yarn but VA and MVK modified fibers were 17.3 and 17.00kg/yarn respectively. The dye absorption by modified fiber was slightly decreased than bleached fiber due to the increased hydrophobicity. The wash fastness with soap solution decreased with the increase in washing temperature. The color fastness test of dyed bleached and modified jute fibers spotting with alkalis, and acids were satisfactory with some exceptions. Thus, the modification improves the physicochemical properties of the jute fiber for textile applications.