High‐Speed Spun PET Nanocomposites for Smart Multifunctional Approaches

Abstract

ABSTRACTHigh‐speed spinning at 3000 m/min with a remarkable potential for mass production was conducted to produce continuous fine‐multifilament nanocomposite yarns on a pilot plant scale. Nanocomposite fabrics were produced via a simultaneous draw‐texturing process followed by weft knitting. The fabric samples were examined in terms of thermophysiological comfort, tribological performance, and the resistance against structural degradation under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The abrasion resistance was improved by enhancement of rupture work while decreasing the crystallinity. Improvement of more than 200% was recorded in fabric abrasion resistance upon using a sample containing the maximum content of nanoparticles (NPs). A remarkable improvement in resistance was recorded against structural degradation under UV irradiation for the UV‐irradiated polyethylene terephetalate (PET) nanocomposites as compared to UV‐irradiated monocomponent PET. The study of the effect of UV irradiation confirmed our recent finding about a UV‐induced solid‐state interaction mechanism in the case of PET nanocomposites as well as polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites. Optimal comfortable characteristic was achieved upon using 5 wt% nanosilver masterbatch. At low environment temperatures, this sample has lower vapor permeability than monocomponent PET fabrics. By raising the temperature, the rate of improving the vapor permeability for the composite fabrics became markedly more than that of monocomponent fabrics. It is of great interest that these desirable changes in permeability can be achieved in the range of common environment temperatures (i.e. 15–35°C), which exactly meet the body requirements. Consequently, nanocomposite fabrics can smartly adapt the permeability requirements for the human body by changing the environment temperatures.