The influence of enzymatic treatment on the surface modification of PET fibers

Abstract

Abstract The paper deals with the assessment of the surface modification of glossy continuous poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers from the point of view of changes in their surface structure in terms of its micro‐topography and the molecular and supermolecular structure of the filament surface layers. The performed SEM and AFM investigations have shown differences in the fiber surface carving before and after modification (smoothing or increased roughness), depending on the type of applied enzymatic preparation. Measurements with the use of the ATR‐IR method have shown changes in the physicochemical character of the investigated fiber surface. The cleavage of the ester bonds in PET macromolecular chains, resulting from the modifications used, leads to the formation of reactive OH and COOH groups. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011