Study on Dye Uptake-Blend Ratio Relation of Melt Spun Polypropylene / Polybutylene-terephthalate Blend Fibers

In this study, polypropylene (PP)/polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) polyblend fibers that were melt spun at various blend ratios (5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 percent of the dispersed phase of the PBT) were prepared and the relation of the morphological, rheological and structural properties to dye uptake was investigated. The results show that the dye uptake of the PP/PBT polyblend fiber samples significantly increases when the dispersed phase content of the PBT is increased. An increase in the dispersed content of the PBT leads to interface improvement between the matrix and dispersed phase of the polyblend fibers, reduction in the crystallinity percentage and improvement in the adhesion bonds and active centers in the polyblend fibers for dye absorption. Positive deviation from the linear mixing rule observed in the melt viscosities is good evidence of the improvement in the morphology of the polyblend fiber samples.