GRAFTING OF METHACRYLIC-ACID ONTO POLY(ETHYLENE-TEREPHTHALATE) FIBERSUSING AZOBISISOBUTYRONITRILE

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers were grafted with methacrylic acid using azobisisobutyronitrile. The graft yield was observed to increas e between 60 and 90 degrees C and reached 32% at 90 degrees C. An incr ease in monomer concentration increased the graft yield. The optimum c oncentration for initiator was found to be 3.0 x 10(-3) mol/L. Graftin g decreased the density and increased the diameter of the fiber. Moist ure regain and dyeabilities of the fibers with basic dyes increased du e to -COOH groups introduced into the fiber structure through grafting . However, grafting resulted in a decrease in the decomposition temper atures of fibers. Micrographs revealed that the homogeneous appearance of the fiber surface changed with an increasing degree of grafting, a nd the surface took on a shell-like appearance at high graft yields.