Polyvinylamine application for functionalization of polyethylene fiber materials

Abstract

The permanent functionalization of synthetic fibers and especially of polyethylene fibers (PE fibers) is usually difficult, because the synthetic fiber surface does not contain many functional groups for fixation of finishing agents. For this, the aim of the now presented paper is to report of a functionalization process for PE fibers using the polyelectrolyte polyvinylamine (commercially also named as Lupamin™). The polyvinylamine is applied in a HT process (HT for high temperature process using process temperatures of 95 to 140°C) and usable to work as anchor for further applied negatively charged functionalizing agents as demonstrated in the current study with acid dyes. Also demonstrated is excellent antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus by simple polyvinylamine application onto PE fibers. This reported method has a high potential for the functionalization of PE fibers and could lead in future to appropriate industrial applications using functionalized PE fibers.

High-Performance Fibres – A Review of Properties and IR-Spectra

“…The many disadvantages of HPPE fibres include their low temperature resistance due to their low glass temperature T G of around 90 °C and their high flammability, which is reflected in a low LOI value of around 18 [18]. It is also quite difficult to modify polyethylene fibres through chemical finishing because there are no functional groups on the fibre surface that could interact with the anchor groups of finishing agents [26].…”

Realisation of polyester fabrics with low transmission for ultraviolet light

“…43 Commonly, applications in the textiles industry are carried out from recipes using water as a solvent, for reasons of cost and safety. 44,45 However, hydrophobic UV absorbers are insoluble in water, so they have to be applied as dispersions. These dispersions are realised and stabilised with the help of dispersing agents.…”

“…A typical example is the dyeing of polyester fibres with hydrophobic disperse dyes applied as dispersion in water‐based recipes 43 . Commonly, applications in the textiles industry are carried out from recipes using water as a solvent, for reasons of cost and safety 44,45 . However, hydrophobic UV absorbers are insoluble in water, so they have to be applied as dispersions.…”

Cationic Pretreatment for Reactive Dyeing of Cotton and its Simultaneous Antibacterial Functionalisation

“…As an alternative to cationic nitrogen compounds, simple amino compounds can also be used to introduce antibacterial properties to textiles. An example is the application of polyvinylamine for the functionalisation of fabrics made from high-performance polyethylene [23]. With this background, the purpose of the presented study was to evaluate diff erent cationic pretreatments for cotton with the aim of simultaneously improving dyeability with reactive dyes and achieving antibacterial properties.…”