Paper TF+SS-ThA4
Durability of Property Changes in Polyester Fabrics Infused with Inorganics via Vapor Phase Infiltration

Thursday, October 24, 2019, 3:20 pm, Room A122-123

Vapor Phase Infiltration (VPI) is a processing method for transforming polymers into organic-inorganic hybrid materials. During VPI, a polymer is exposed to vapor-phase metalorganic precursors that sorb, diffuse, and react within the bulk of the polymer to create new hybrid materials. VPI has been shown to modify properties such as the mechanical strength of spider silk, the thermal and UV degradation resistance of Kevlar, and the fluorescence of polyester. This study aims to better understand how VPI can change textile properties for industrial applications and the durability of these changes. To this end, polyester fabrics were treated with trimethylaluminum (TMA) and co-reacted with water in a custom-built vacuum chamber. The temperature of the treatment process was varied from 60˚C to 140˚C to establish a relationship between processing temperature, physiochemical structure, and material properties. Using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), these infiltrated fabrics were found to have inorganic loadings between 5 and 8 weight percent, with a maximum inorganic loading at 100 °C (Figure 1). These results are consistent with our current understanding of precursor / polymer sorption thermodynamics and indicate that processing temperature can be used to control the loading of inorganics through both the diffusion rate and the sorption equilibrium. To examine the durability of this inorganic loading, wash fastness testing at 100˚C for 90 minutes followed by TGA and SEM/EDX was used to determine the effects of high temperature wash cycles. These tests demonstrated that the inorganic loading remains even after intense laundering (Figure 2). To further characterize the durability of VPI treatment, known changes due to the VPI process were compared before and after washing. In particular, mechanical properties, fluorescence, and thermal degradation behavior were investigated. This talk will explore the wash-fastness of VPI treatments of polyester at different processing temperatures and the retention of enhanced properties relevant to the textile industry.