Improvement of polypropylene properties by irradiation/grafting and other modifications

Abstract

POLYPROPYLENE excellent mechanical (PP) properties. is a cheap PP is fabric, hydrophobic bearing in chemical nature, inactive resistance synthetic and fabric due to the absence of reactive functional groups in the molecular structure, thus preventing its dyeing. For this reason, PP fibers are modified by irradiation methods to form free radical centers onto the surface and graft copolymerization of selected vinyl monomers. Different irradiation techniques are adopted involving plasma discharge, electron beams, ozone, UV, γ- rays and others. PP is grafted with selected monomers including methacrylate derivatives such as (2N -Dimethyl amino ethyl methacrylate, 2N morpholino ethyl methacrylate, 2- ethyl methacrylate phosphoric acid, methyl methacrylate, 2- hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) acrylic acid, styrene, chloro methyl styrene, vinyl acetate etc... The different variable factors affecting irradiation and grafting reactions are considered such as irradiation dose, storage time of irradiated fabric, monomer concentration, reaction time and temperature. Physical properties of grafted and those containing tertiary amino quaternized groups are improved for increase of moisture regain, melting point and enhancement affinity to dyeing by different classes of dyestuffs. The important properties improvement include ion exchange capacity, electrical conductivity, antistatic, insect repellent activity antibacterial property. PP containing Ag, Zn, ZnO, TiO2 , Cu, Cu2O nano particles are antibacterial fabrics which are used as wound healing dressings.