Fariborz Azizinezhad
In this study the chemical grafting of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate / acrylic acid (2-HPMA/AA) mixture onto poly ( ethylene terephthalate ) fibers using benzoyl peroxide ( Bz2O2) as a radicalic initiator in aqueous media was investigated. The use of 2-HPMA as a comonomer increased the amount of AA introduced to the PET fibers up to 42%, while the grafting of AA fibers alone gave low graft yields. Optimum condition of grafting was determined to be [Bz2O2] = 4.0×10-3mol/dm3, [monomer mixture] (20% AA+80% 2-HPMA) = 0.2mol/dm3, temperature = 90°C and time = 60min. With an increase in the grafting yield, moisture regain and dye ability with acidic and basic dyes increased. The grafted fibers were characterized by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR).