Chemical modification of polyester fiber surfaces by amination reactions with multifunctional amines

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Abstract
The feasibility of incorporating amine groups into the surface of polyester (PET) fibers by reaction with multifunctional amines was investigated. Reactions of diethylenetriamine (DETA), trethylenetetramine (TETTA), and tetraethylenepentamine (TTEPA) with PET monofilaments and with a multifilament yarn were studied. Microspectrophotometric examination of aminated fibers stained with an acid dye at low pH revealed the location and concentration of amine groups. Amination could be confined to the periphery and was found to be uniform on the fiber surface. The rate of the reaction, as revealed by acid dye staining, was characterized by an induction period followed by an autoaccelerated stage. Extent of incorporation of amine groups was found to be similar for the three amines. There is a significant improvement in water wettability due to surface amination, and the interfacial shear strength of TTEPA‐treated PET monofilaments embedded in an epoxy resin matrix was almost doubled. As the amination reaction proceeds, there is a weakening of the reacted zone in the PET due to chain scission leading to a decrease in the interfacial shear strength. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed that failure occurred within the filament most probably between the reacted and unreacted zones. The tensile properties of the TTEPA‐treated PET filaments were hardly affected at the investigated extents of amination.