4-vinylpyridine and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate monomer mixture graft copolymerization onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers using benzoyl peroxide

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers were grafted with 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VP) and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) using benzoyl peroxide (Bz(2)O(2)) as initiator in aqueous media. PET fibers were swelled in dichloroethane (DCE) for 2 h at 90 degrees C to promote the incorporation and the subsequent polymerization of 4-VP/HEMA onto PET fibers. Variations of graft yield with time, temperature, initiator concentration and monomer mixture ratio were investigated. The optimum initiator concentration was found to be 8x10(-3) mol/L. The maximum graft yield was obtained 280%. The optimum temperature and polymerization time was found to be 85 degrees C and 100 min. respectively. The rate of grafting was found to be proportional of the 1.5 and 0.3 powers of 4-VP/HEMA and Bz(2)O(2) concentrations, respectively. The grafted PET fibers were characterized by thermo gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Further changes in properties of grafted PET fibers such as water absorption capacity, intrinsic viscosity and diameter were determined. The dye ability of the PET fibers increased with an increase in grafting with diazo and basic dyes.