Marcela Hricová

Polypropylene/Poly (Trimethylene Terephthalate)–Blend Fibers

Polypropylene (PP)/polyester (PES)–blend fibers were prepared by extruder melt spinning. The polymer blend consisted of PP and a “master batch” (MB) based on polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), binary PTT/PET or PP/PTT blends, and also on a ternary PP/(PTT/PET) blend. The phase structure of PP/PES–blend fibers was examined. PES microfibers showed separation from the PP matrix in blend fibers. The impact of MB composition and rheological characteristics on phase structure parameters indicate a significant contribution of the PTT in the binary MB on the length of dispersed PES microfibers in the PP matrix. However, the blends of PP and ternary MB (PP/PTT/PET) have a lower diameter and length of the PES microfibers. The presence of PTT/PET (PES) enhances the structural and mechanical properties of the blend PP/PES fibers. In addition, PTT increases the tensile strength of the PP/PES–blend fibers if a binary MB is used, while the fiber nonuniformity is reduced in the presence of a ternary MB.

Modification of PP fibres with alkaline copolyamides

Copolyamides with 5.9-19.7 wt.% of nylon salt ADETA (adipic acid + diethylenetriamine) and 94.1-80.3 wt.% of e-caprolactam were synthesized and their properties were estimated. Blended polypropylene/ copolyamides fibres containing 5-15 wt.% of copolyamides were prepared and their properties were evaluated. The electrical properties, hydrophilicity and especially dyeability of modified PP fibres are positively influenced by a higher amount of the copolyamide in the PP and also by a higher amount of the nylon salt ADETA in the copolyamide.

Spinning, mechanical and thermal properties of metallocene polypropylene fibers

The higher mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP) fibers based on metallocene-catalyzed PP (miPP) in comparison with fibers based on Ziegler–Natta-catalyzed PP (zniPP) were presented in periodic literature in the last decade. At the same time the miPP fibers have lower crystallinity and lower melting temperature compared with conventional zniPP fibers. In our experimental work, the thermal and mechanical properties of both the miPP and zniPP multifilaments depending on their spinning and drawing conditions were investigated. The dynamic viscosity and deviation from the Newtonian flow of polymer melt were evaluated as important parameters for melt-spinning technology. The melting temperature, melting enthalpy and melting entropy of multifilaments were investigated using DSC analysis in dependence on spinning temperature and draw ratio of fibers. At the same time the mechanical properties of fibers tenacity, elongation and elastic modulus were measured. The DSC measurements were carried out using conventional method and constant length method at which the constant length of fibers was held (constrained fibers). The changes in melting temperature, melting enthalpy and melting entropy of drawn fibers were analyzed and correlated with mechanical properties of fibers. The mechanical and thermal properties of fibers were discussed with regard to the spinning and drawing conditions as well.