Surface modification of synthetic fiber nonwoven fabrics with poly(acrylicacid) chains prepared by corona discharge induced grafting

The surface modification of synthetic fiber fabrics via corona discharge tr eatment and subsequent graft polymerization was investigated. Polyethylene (PE) nonwoven fabric and polyamide-6 (PA-6) nonwoven fabric were used as ba se fabrics. Acrylic acid (AAc) was graft polymerized onto the fabrics via c orona discharge pre-treatment. The grafted amounts of PAAc were dependent o n the grafting time, chat of PA-6 being higher than that of PE. It was conf irmed that the surface of the fibers constructing the fabric was fully cove red with PAAc after the 20 min reaction. The surface of the PAAc grafted fa brics was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The leakage of electrostatic charge from the fabric was determined and the dyeability was studied with methylene blue. The period of time in which the charge potent ial attenuated to 1/2 of the initial potential decreased drastically by gra fting with PAAc. The grafted amount was enough for dyeing the entire fabric s.