Novel pH-responsive cellulose papers have been prepared via grafting poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PEMAEMA) from the conventional filter papers by ARGET (activators regenerated by electron transfer) ATRP (atom transfer radical polymerization).The grafting polymerization was conducted in anisole and methanol respectively

and a relatively higher grafting efficiency was achieved in methanol.A sacrificial initiator was used when performing the reaction.The free polymer

formed from the sacrificial initiator in parallel to the grafting on the papers

was characterized by GPC

showing that the length of the polymer chains increased with increasing reaction time

and the molecular weight distribution index was between 1.4~1.6.The grafted filter papers were evaluated with FTIR

SEM and graft ratio

suggesting that ARGET ATRP provided a good control for the grafting of PDMAEMA

and the amount of polymer on the surfaces could be tailored by polymerization time.Water contact angle measurements implied that the papers presented obvious pH-responsive properties after the grafting.The wettability of the PDMAEMA-grafted papers varied with changes in pH

and the hydrophobic ability was enhanced when the pH was improved.