Features of spinning of modified polypropylene fibres

Abstract

Incorporation of polyhexamethyleneguanidine chloride, polyethylene glycol, sodium oleate, aerosils, carbon nanotubules, and Tetralin in the amount of 0.2-10% of the weight of the polymer in polypropylene melt in the spinning stage is proposed for improving the mechanical and hygienic properties of PP fibres. The rheological properties of modified polypropylene melts were investigated. The insignificant effect of the additives on the properties of the melt in shear and the sharp increase in spinnability (longitudinal deformability of the melt) was demonstrated. This makes it possible to manufacture thin PP fibres and thread. Polypropylene (PP) fibres are in second place among chemical fibres with respect to the production volume. This is due to the low cost and availability of the initial raw material, simplicity of the spinning technology, low power consumption, and valuable properties, such as the lowest density, highest specific volume and specific area, high wet and dry wear resistance, highest moisture transport rate due to the special capillary structure and hydrophoby of the fibre layers, negative charge, etc. [1-4]. Due to the above, the wide assortment of PP fibres allows using them both for manufacturing consumer goods and in industry. However, the hydrophoby of PP fibres, flow under load, poor dyeability, and relatively low initial modulus limit the areas of application [2]. Searching for new methods of modification is pressing for improving the properties of PP fibres. We investigated the possibility of manufacturing fibres by spinning from polypropylene melt modified with additives