Fiber-forming blend polypropylene-polyvinyl alcohol

The preparation of a fiber-forming blend consisting of polypropylene and po lyvinyl alcohol mixed with glycerol and with polypropylene grafted with mal eic anhydride were studied. The physical and mechanical properties of blend fibers were also studied. The rheological measurements for semiquantitativ e evaluation of technological compatibility of the components and for proce ssing the polymeric material in extruding and spinning process were carried out. The experimental results revealed the technological compatibility of the polypropylene-polyvinyl alcohol blend in the presence of glycerol and p olypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride. The colloidal structure of inte rface layer is assumed to be in a three-or four-component system. The mixtu re of polyvinyl alcohol with glycerol allows for the preparation Of well sp un fiber-forming polypropylene blends. Polypropylene-polyvinyl alcohol blen d fibers consisting of up to 20% polyvinyl alcohol with sufficient mechanic al properties, higher porosity and significantly higher sorption of water t han polypropylene fibers alone were prepared. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.