Yttria-polystyrene-polypropylene composite for fine dyeable fibers

Fine polypropylene fiber has many excellent properties, but it is difficult to dye because of the absence of dye sites in the molecular chain and high crystallinity. Fine polypropylene/hybrid polystyrene (yttria) fiber melt-spun from blends of polypropylene and a small amount of nanohybrid polystyrene with modified yttria incorporated was prepared to improve the dyeing properties. The dyeability; orientation, degree of crystallinity, phase morphology, and mechanical properties of pure polypropylene and the blend fibers were investigated. It was found that the crystallinity and morphology of these phases in the blend systems were different. With the existence of nanohybrid polystyrene, the fine modified polypropylene filaments had practical mechanical properties, the amorphous region of the polypropylene/hybrid polystyrene (yttria) fiber increased, and the modified polypropylene fiber dyed easily and had good fastness to soaping because of the complexation of the disperse dye and yttrium in the blend system. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.