Graft Copolymerization of a Reactive β-Cyclodextrin and Acrylic Acid onto the Cellulosic Fibres

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are macrocyclic compounds composed of six to eight D-glucose units linked together by -(1,4)- glycosidic bonds [1]. Due to the hydrophilic exterior andhydrophobic interior of these compounds, CDs can incorporate a variety of hydrophobic compounds in their cavities, via host-guest complexation. A large number of cyclodextrin derivatives have recently been introduced with compounds capable of reacting with their hydroxyl groups [2-3]. Among these derivatives, some reactive cyclodextrins have also been applied in textile industries [4] because natural or synthetic polymers containing nucleophilic groups can react with these derivatives by forming a covalent bond [5]. In our previous studies, a reactive derivative was provided inwhich the β-cyclodextrin was modified with a bifunctional compound containing carboxyl and vinyl groups via theesterification reaction. The structural information ofsynthesised cyclodextrin itaconate was characterised, and the grafting copolymerisation of this reactive cyclodextrin oncotton fabric was studied [6, 7]. In this research, the new cycloedextrin reactive was applied with acrilyic acid on thesurface of cellulosic fibres to improve the performance of fabrics.