Modification of PP Fabric with Polyols by the Plasma Composite Technique

Abstract In order to endow polypropylene (PP) fabric with hydrophilic and antistatic properties, PP was grafted with polyols (sorbitol, maltitol and polyethylene glycol (PEG)) by the oxygen plasma treatment and subsequent bridging process, where ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) and trimethylolpropanetris (2-methyl-1-aziridinepropionate) (TTMA) were used as crosslinkers. The highest grafting rate was 7.48%. The chemical structure changes were analysed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the changes in polypropylene fiber surface morphology. The hydrophilicity was characterized by testing loose fiber suspension and moisture retention. The modified PP was more easily immersed in water and the desorption behaviour continued for 2h without equilibrium. The half-life of the grafted PP was reduced to 7s. The results showed that the modified PP with polyols possessed hydrophilicity and antistatic properties.