WATER TRANSFER PROPERTIES OF POLY (ETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE) FABRICS GRAFTED WITH ACRYLIC ACID AND METHACRYLIC ACID

The grafting of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid made poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers hydrophilic, and Na salt form of the grafted PET showed eminent hygroscopicity and water absorbency, as reported previously. In this report, water transfer behavior of the grafted PET (Na salt form) was investigated in comparison with conventional hydrophilic fibers.The water absorption and the water release of the grafted PET were almost similar to that of the surface modified hydrophilic PET. The amount of absorbed water measured under a load was higher than that of cotton, and the velocity of water release was faster than that of cotton.It was considered that the grafting took place in the amorphous region of PET and formed the hydrophilic domains in a hydrophobic matrix. So, in the moisture absorbing or desorbing process of the grafted PET, some specific behavior was expected in comparison with a conventional hydrophilic fiber such as cotton. However, it became clear that the time dependence of moisture absorption and desorption of the grafted PET were also similar to that of cotton.