In
this article we show that poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)
fibers obtained from the recycling process of PET bottles can be chemically
modified and used to create materials destined to become clothing
articles. The modifications of the characteristics of PET fibers through
saponification and aminolysis reactions have been studied. The work
represents a comparative study of the behavior of PET virgin (of synthesis)
fibers versus recycled PET fibers (from PET bottles). Comparisons
have been made between the modifications which appear in physical
and chemical structures, thermal stability, mechanical properties,
and dyeability under the action of some reactions with NaOH, with
ethylene diamine, or with their mixture at 20 °C. The FTIR, SEM,
EDAX, XRD, DSC, and TGA analyses made evident the differences/similarities
between the two types of studied polyester fibers. The recycled PET
fibers are much less crystalline, more stable at high temperature,
and easier to dye with nonspecific (anionic and cationic) dyes. After
the treatment with AgNO3, the virgin/recycled PET fibers,
chemically modified (which have NH2 groups), have antimicrobial
activities due to their affinity for Ag ions. The silver presence
on the treated samples can be seen even after 10 cycles of repeated
home laundering. The only inconvenience of the treatments meant to
modify the PET chemical structure is tenacity diminution, manifested
in different ways, depending on the reagent type, concentration, and
duration. However, the recycled PET fibers can be used to create materials
destined to become clothing articles (by themselves or blended with
synthetic/natural fibers) which can be more easily and more economically
dyed in a single bath and a single stage.