Amphiphlic polypropylene fibers with highly hydrophilic multi-grooved micro-structures through bicomponent melt spinning
Ruilong Liu,
Renhai Zhao,
Shunzhong Cai,
Fuyun Sun,
Kun Zhang,
Xin Ning,
George Hao
Affiliations
Ruilong Liu
Industrial Research Institute of Nonwovens & Technical Textiles, College of Textiles & Clothing, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Shandong Center for Engineered Nonwovens, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Renhai Zhao
Industrial Research Institute of Nonwovens & Technical Textiles, College of Textiles & Clothing, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Shandong Center for Engineered Nonwovens, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Corresponding authors.
Shunzhong Cai
Industrial Research Institute of Nonwovens & Technical Textiles, College of Textiles & Clothing, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Shandong Center for Engineered Nonwovens, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Fuyun Sun
Industrial Research Institute of Nonwovens & Technical Textiles, College of Textiles & Clothing, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-textiles of Shandong Province and the Ministry of Education, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, China; State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Kun Zhang
Industrial Research Institute of Nonwovens & Technical Textiles, College of Textiles & Clothing, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-textiles of Shandong Province and the Ministry of Education, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, China; State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Xin Ning
Industrial Research Institute of Nonwovens & Technical Textiles, College of Textiles & Clothing, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Shandong Center for Engineered Nonwovens, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Corresponding authors.
George Hao
King’s Choice (Jiangsu) New Materials Co., Ltd, Nanjing 211111, China
Tunable surface amphiphilic polypropylene (PP) fibers and textiles with multi-grooved hydrophilic micro-structures have been prepared through a commercially scalable segmented pie bicomponent fiber melt spinning and post-treatment process. It was demonstrated that the molecular implantation of a modified polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) macromolecular chains onto the PP interface/interphase during the bicomponent melt-spinning process was responsible for the hydrophilicity inside the micro-channels (micro-groves) of the PP fibers. These hydrophilic channels brought about super capillary wicking effect through the PP fibers and fabrics that is much amplified than previous technologies to functional treatment of the fibers and fabrics via environmentally friendly aqueous processes. In aqueous dyeing treatment, for example, these multi-grooved novel amphiphilic fibers demonstrated a practical solution to the well-known dilemma that PP fiber is essentially impossible to dye due to its inherently low surface energy. Additionally, there is a great promise to expanded the amphiphilic PP to higher-value functionalities and wider-field applications.
