Surface Functionalization of Electrospun Poly(butylene terephthalate) Fibers by Surface-Initiated Radical Polymerization

Abstract

A facile surface modification procedure for electrospun poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) fibers by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) is reported. Initiators are introduced through aminolysis and chemical vapor adsorption. SI-ATRP is subsequently carried out to prepare a polymer-grafted layer at the PBT fiber surface without altering the fiber geometry. After modification with a zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine), poly(3-(N-2-methacryloyloxyethyl-N,N-dimethyl) ammonatopropanesulfonate), the surface is superhydrophilic. The surface properties are thermally stable due to the high melting temperature of the PBT crystallites and are maintained for a prolonged period.