BENZOYL-PEROXIDE-INITIATED GRAFT-COPOLYMERIZATION OF POLY(ETHYLENE-TEREPHTHALATE) FIBERS WITH ACRYLIC-ACID

The grafting of acrylic acid onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers subjected to a no-swelling treatment using benzoyl peroxide was investigated. The temperature was found to increase the graft yield. The grafting yield increased up to a benzoyl peroxide concentration of 4.0 X 10(-3) M and slightly decreased at higher initiator concentrations. The effects of solvents such as dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, pyridine, and some alcohols upon the grafting were examined by carrying out the graft copolymerization at various water/solvent ratios. Pyridine was found to inhibit the grafting totally. The properties of the grafted fibers such as density, diameter, dyeability, and moisture regain were also investigated. It was concluded due to the observations made in these properties that the grafting took place mainly in the subsurface regions of the fibers and there occurred a diffusion barrier after the grafting value of 8-9%. The overall activation energy for grafting was calculated to be 9.9 kcal/mol. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.