Tinctorial Response of Recycled PET Fibers to Chemical Modifications during Saponification and Aminolysis Reactions

Abstract

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.

Free Channel Formation around Graphitic Carbon Nitride Embedded in Porous Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanofibers with Excellent Reusability for Eliminating Antibiotics under Solar Irradiation

“…After postprocessing, T-PET and g-C 3 N 4 @PET both crystallize and show an isotropic diffraction pattern. Three obvious preferred orientations [(010), (1̅10), and (100)] can be observed and can be ascribed to the peaks at 17.6°, 23.0°, and 25.6°, respectively . More importantly, the presence of g-C 3 N 4 in g-C 3 N 4 /PEG/PET and g-C 3 N 4 @PET can be directly observed from Figure D–G, because g-C 3 N 4 has an obvious diffraction peak at 27.4°, indexed as the (002) preferred orientation. − …”

“…Three obvious preferred orientations [(010), (1̅ 10), and (100)] can be observed and can be ascribed to the peaks at 17.6°, 23.0°, and 25.6°, respectively. 53 More importantly, the presence of g-C 3 N 4 in g-C 3 N 4 /PEG/PET and g-C 3 N 4 @PET can be directly observed from Figure 6D−G, because g-C 3 N 4 has an obvious diffraction peak at 27.4°, indexed as the (002) preferred orientation. 54−56 On the basis of the FESEM, TEM, BET, FTIR, TG, DRS, PL, and 2D-XRD analyses, we proposed that PEG in g-C 3 N 4 / PEG/PET can be almost completely removed through posttreatment in a water bath, resulting in the formation of porous g-C 3 N 4 @PET nanofibers.…”

Polyester/polyvinyl butyral/zirconium carbide multifunctional composite yarn with high photothermal conversion capacity

“…Yan et al fabricate polyurethane/zirconium carbide fibrous film using electrospinning technique and found that when ZrC content was 8%, the surface temperature of the film reached 66.5 °C after 150 s irradiation under Xenon lamp 23 . An et al found that when the addition quantities of CuS and ZrC nanoparticles were 2%, the photothermal conversion and heat insulation efficiency of photothermal conversion nano composite coating were the best 24 . However, some of these preparation processes are too complex and the heat conversion efficiency is not so high.…”

“…23 An et al found that when the addition quantities of CuS and ZrC nanoparticles were 2%, the photothermal conversion and heat insulation efficiency of photothermal conversion nano composite coating were the best. 24 However, some of these preparation processes are too complex and the heat conversion efficiency is not so high. It is necessary to develop a more simple and efficient preparation method to obtain heat-regulated textiles.…”

Surface Modification of PET Fiber with Hybrid Coating and Its Effect on the Properties of PP Composites

“…Through alkali weight reduction processing, the antistatic property, permeability and moisture absorption performance of PET fabric were obviously damaged [4]. Moreover, the fracture strength of PET fiber treated with alkali was also seriously damaged [5]. Plasma processing predominated over the amorphous region of PET fiber.…”