Author : M.D. Teli and P.V. Desai

The role of nanoclay (NC) in influencing the structural properties of polypropylene (PP) and polytrimethylene terapthalate (PTT) polyblend fibers formed in presence of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) has been investigated. The structural changes in thermal properties, tensile properties and dyeability for varying concentration of NC i.e. 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% & 1% were studied. The thermal properties were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The dyeability of polyblend fibers with respect to disperse dye and acid dye was studied along with evaluation of its fastness properties. NC addition in small loadings (< 1%) enhanced the thermal stability and tenacity upto 9.7%. The poly blend fibers showed excellent disperse dyeability exhibiting good fastness properties. The quaternary salts present in NC also induced acid dyeability to the polyblend fibers.

Keywords: Polypropylene, Nanoclay, Dyeability, Polytrimethylene terapthalate.

Article published in International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.5, No.4 (Aug-2015)