64
Y. Qin et al.
spinning process. In this section, an empirical equation was proposed, which could
effectively predict the water content of PET materials using the drying temperature
and drying time.
The characteristics of the PET raw materials and melt-spun fibres were analyzed
comprehensively from many aspects involving thermal behaviour, molar mass characteristic, rheological properties, surface morphology, diameter, thermal stability,
tenacity and elongation at break. Accordingly, rPET-B and vPET-1 with optimal
spinnability were proved to be the most suitable PET materials for melt spinning
respectively from the recycled and virgin PET. The fibres fabricated from rPETB and vPET-1 had a desirable tenacity, an outstanding elongation at break and an
excellent fibre fineness. Afterwards, the crystallinity and molecular chain orientation provided an explanation to the improved mechanical properties. Furthermore,
a semi-empirical equation with an adjustable parameter and a material-dependent
parameter was suggested for the first time relating the tenacity and elongation at
break of fibres. In summary, the feasibility has been proved to produce PET fibres
from bottle-grade recycled co-polymer PET material, which have similar properties
as fibres produced from fibre-grade virgin homo-polymer PET. Generally, the specific information of the investigated PET materials, especially rPET-B and vPET-1
will provide scientific guidance for melt spinning in the future.
Key Statement
1. Characterization of five raw PET materials: (a) Karl Fischer Titration (water content against drying temperature and drying time, with proposed equation); (b)
Thermal properties; (c) Molar mass characterization; (d) Rheological characterization.
2. Characterization of the melt-spun PET fibres: (a) Surface morphology; (b) Diameter distribution of the fibres; (s) Molar mass degradation; (d) Thermal stability;
(e) Evaluation of the mechanical properties (tenacity, elongation at break); (f)
Crystallinity and (g) Orientation of fibres.
3. Performance-reliability plot using Weibull distribution.
4. Comparison with literature.
5. A semi-empirical equation relating to the tenacity and elongation at break for
fibres.
References
1. Gurudatt K, De P, Rakshit AK, Bardhan MK (2003) Spinning fibers from poly (ethylene
terephthalate) bottle-grade waste. J Appl Polym Sci 90(13):3536–3545
2. Ghanbari A, Heuzey MC, Carreau PJ, Ton-That MT (2013) A novel approach to control thermal degradation of PET/organoclay nanocomposites and improve clay exfoliation. Polymer
54(4):1361–1369
Y. Qin et al.
spinning process. In this section, an empirical equation was proposed, which could
effectively predict the water content of PET materials using the drying temperature
and drying time.
The characteristics of the PET raw materials and melt-spun fibres were analyzed
comprehensively from many aspects involving thermal behaviour, molar mass characteristic, rheological properties, surface morphology, diameter, thermal stability,
tenacity and elongation at break. Accordingly, rPET-B and vPET-1 with optimal
spinnability were proved to be the most suitable PET materials for melt spinning
respectively from the recycled and virgin PET. The fibres fabricated from rPETB and vPET-1 had a desirable tenacity, an outstanding elongation at break and an
excellent fibre fineness. Afterwards, the crystallinity and molecular chain orientation provided an explanation to the improved mechanical properties. Furthermore,
a semi-empirical equation with an adjustable parameter and a material-dependent
parameter was suggested for the first time relating the tenacity and elongation at
break of fibres. In summary, the feasibility has been proved to produce PET fibres
from bottle-grade recycled co-polymer PET material, which have similar properties
as fibres produced from fibre-grade virgin homo-polymer PET. Generally, the specific information of the investigated PET materials, especially rPET-B and vPET-1
will provide scientific guidance for melt spinning in the future.
Key Statement
1. Characterization of five raw PET materials: (a) Karl Fischer Titration (water content against drying temperature and drying time, with proposed equation); (b)
Thermal properties; (c) Molar mass characterization; (d) Rheological characterization.
2. Characterization of the melt-spun PET fibres: (a) Surface morphology; (b) Diameter distribution of the fibres; (s) Molar mass degradation; (d) Thermal stability;
(e) Evaluation of the mechanical properties (tenacity, elongation at break); (f)
Crystallinity and (g) Orientation of fibres.
3. Performance-reliability plot using Weibull distribution.
4. Comparison with literature.
5. A semi-empirical equation relating to the tenacity and elongation at break for
fibres.
References
1. Gurudatt K, De P, Rakshit AK, Bardhan MK (2003) Spinning fibers from poly (ethylene
terephthalate) bottle-grade waste. J Appl Polym Sci 90(13):3536–3545
2. Ghanbari A, Heuzey MC, Carreau PJ, Ton-That MT (2013) A novel approach to control thermal degradation of PET/organoclay nanocomposites and improve clay exfoliation. Polymer
54(4):1361–1369