Characterization of pet fabrics surface modified by graft cellulose nano-crystal using TGA, FE-SEM and XPS

Surface-modified Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabrics were prepared through thionylchlorided cellulose nano-crystal (CNC) reacting with hydroxyl groups at the surface of the alkalietched PET fabrics. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to study the topography, superficial ingredients and thermal properties of the composite, respectively. It was confirmed by the observation of FE-SEM that the surface of PET fabrics was covered by the immobilized CNC particles, and increasing O/C atomic ratio in XPS-spectra was found with grafting. The TGA examination indicated that CNC-g-PET had less weight loss in the range of 300-350 degrees than alkali-treated PET fibers, which was caused by the cross-linking effect of CNC particles with multi-ended reactive groups.