Study on preparation of porous fiber via melt spinning and comparison of modification schemes

Three distinct types of porous fibers were produced via the melt spinning process and post-treatment with the mixed masterbatch mainly including alkali-soluble polyester (COPET), calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and polyester (PET) with or without a minor quantity of aerogel or infrared particles. SEM shows that all the three fibers have obvious pore structure, among which the porous PET fiber has the most pores. The infrared spectra and thermal decomposition behaviors of the three fibers are found to be similar. The strength test indicates that the porous aerogel/PET fiber exhibits the greatest strength (2.375 cN/dtex). The BET test indicates that the specific surface area of porous PET fibers is the highest (2.412 cm2/g), and the average pore size of porous aerogel/PET fibers is the largest (8.91 nm). The result of the thermal insulation test demonstrate that the porous PET fiber exhibits the most effective thermal insulation effect in indoor or low sunlight environments (the temperature difference is 6.9 degrees C in 10 min), and the temperature rise of the porous infrared/PET fiber is the highest under the condition of sunlight (the temperature rises from 27.8 degrees C to 45.7 degrees C in 10 min).