Effects of pretreatment reagents on the hydrolysis and physical properties of PET fabrics

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 112; no. 5; pp. 3071 - 3078
• Main Authors: Kim, Eun Seon, Lee, Chang Hwan, Kim, Seong Hun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 05.06.2009; Wiley
• Subjects: alcohols; alkaline hydrolysis; Applied sciences; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; PET; Polymer industry, paints, wood; pretreatment reagent; Technology of polymers; Solvent effect; Ethylene terephthalate polymer; Ester polymer; Synthetic fiber; alcohols; Crystallinity; Shrinkage; alkaline hydrolysis; Experimental study; Property processing relationship; Hydrolysis; Structure processing relationship; Chemical modification; Basic medium; Water absorption; pretreatment reagent; Kinetics; Woven material; Activation energy; PET
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.29516

The effects of pretreatment reagents on the hydrolysis and physical properties of PET fabrics were investigated under various alkaline hydrolysis treatment and pretreatment conditions. Before alkaline hydrolysis, solvent treatment with pretreatment reagents, including benzyl alcohol (PET-b) or 2-phenyl ethanol (PET-p), modified the structure of the PET fabric, thus affecting the hydrolysis and physical properties of the PET fabrics. Fabric weight loss increased with increasing hydrolysis time. The rate constant (k) increased markedly with increasing methyl groups in the pretreatment reagents. The activation energy (Ea) of untreated fabrics was higher than those of the treated fabrics. The crystallinity of the PET fabrics increased with increasing hydrolysis times (t) and methyl groups in the pretreatment reagents. The weight loss of PET-b increased with increasing pretreatment temperature (T). However, the weight loss of PET-p increased up to 100°C but decreased above 120°C. The shrinkage of all samples increased with increasing hydrolysis times (t). Shrinkage of PET-b and PET-p was greater than that of untreated fabrics. PET-b displayed greater shrinkage than PET-p because byproducts polluted the PET fibers. Both the initial and maximum water absorption of the fabrics increased with increasing hydrolysis times (t).