Radiation-induced grafting of binary vinyl monomers of styrene (St)/maleic anhydride (MAn), St/dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and St/vinyl acetate (VAc) onto cotton cellulose was carried out by γ-radiation from a ⁶⁰Co source at room temperature under nitrogen. The effect of the concentration of initial comonomer, the molar ratio of both monomers in the grafting solution, etc., on the grafting yield was investigated, and the effects of the reactivity ratio of two monomers on the grafting yield, the composition and characteristic of the grafted copolymers were discussed. The results suggested that the decisive factor of the composition of the grafted copolymers was the reactivity ratio and the molar ratio of two monomers, which was testified further by the analyses of the IR and TGA. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystallinity was reduced with the increase of the grafting yield, which proved that the grafting of binary comonomers onto cotton cellulose extended from the third phase to the crystallized region.

Key words: styrene, maleic anhydride, dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate, vinyl acetate, cotton cellulose, radiation-induced grafting, reactivity ratio