Surface modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers has been significantly important to improve its surface properties and/or introduce new functionalities. Radical graft polymerization has the most powerful effect to promote surface activation of PET. In this research peroxide initiators were used for generation of radicals on surfaces of the fibers. In order to control the radical graft polymerization, enhance the grafting yield and minimize homopolymerization on the PET surface, the initiators with good affinity to PET surfaces were selected. A reaction system that promotes the accessibility of the initiator radicals to the CH<sub>2</sub> groups on PET surface and abstract H-atom to generate reactive radical sites was designed. The strategies could be accomplished either by increasing the affinity of the initiator towards PET or physically embedding initiators into the substrate. Hansen solubility parameter approach was used as a tool to identify appropriate initiators and solvent structures with good affinity to PET. In this research different variables that can potentially assist controlling the radical graft polymerization and enhancing the grafting yield on the PET surfaces were studied such as, the effect of solvent, grafting temperature, different surfactant and initiator structures.

Controlled-surface radical graft polymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers

251st National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.