The interactions between hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and potassium persulfate (KPS) during the emulsion graft copolymerization process in aqueous system were investigated. Their interactions were proved by specific viscosity measurements
FT-IR and UV methods. The results showed that the specific viscosity of HPMC solution decreased significantly with increasing time of the interaction time
and KPS could lead to the oxidation degradation of the main chain of HPMC macromolecules. The cellulose macroradicals could be formed in the middle step of oxidization degradation reaction. On the other hand
the decomposition rate of KPS followed first-order kinetics with respect to the concentration of KPS in the presence of HPMC
which was just the same as in pure water. However
the decomposition rate constant of KPS in the presence of HPMC was 7 times higher than that in water at 60℃
resulting in lowering of the half-life and higher decomposition rate of KPS.