Grafting

Name:
Grafting
Detailed information:
A deposition technique whereby organic polymers can be bonded to a wide variety of other materials, both organic and inorganic, in the form of fibers, films, chips, particles, or other shapes. Grafting occurs at specific catalyst sites on the host materials, which must have some capacity for ion exchange, metathesis, or complex formation. Ionizable groups may be added artificially. One proprietary application is polymerization of acrylonitrile with wood pulp fibers to make synthetic soil blocks; the polymer imparts high water-holding capacity to the pulp. Plant nutrient materials are added and the mixture pressed into blocks to be used for starting seedlings.