Modification of polyamide fiber surfaces by micro-organisms

Abstract

The properties of some polyamide fibers - polycaproamide (PCA), poly-p-amidobenzimidazole (PABI), poly-p-phenyleneterephthalamide (PPTA), poly-m-phenyleneisophthalamide (PPIA), and polyimide (PI) - treated by different micro-organisms that are abundant in nature (the bacteria Bacillus and Pseudomonas, and the fungi Aspergillus) were studied. The interfacial bond strength between these fibers (untreated and exposed to micro-organisms) and thermoplastic polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), and polysulfone (PSF) was investigated by the single-filament composite and pull-out techniques. If the treatment time is not very long (1-3 weeks), the tensile strength of the fibers does not deteriorate. However, the topography of the surface undergoes considerable changes in some cases. The result of the treatment depends substantially on the chemical nature of the nutrient as well as on the micro-organism species. Two main avenues for fiber modification are possible: (1) decomposition of macromolecu...