The Analysis of the Micro-structure of Oxygen Plasma Treated PET Using a Nitrogen Porosimeter

Nitrogen Porosimeter를 이용한 산소 플라즈마 처리 PET의 미세구조 분석

The porosities of PET fibers were investigated using a nitrogen porosimeter according to oxygen plasma treatment and dyeing with a disperse dye, and they were discussed in terms of the change of internal micro-structure of the PET fiber. The total pore volume, surface area and average pore size of the plasma treated PET fibers increased expectably compared with the untreated sample. The PET fibers treated with oxygen plasma and then dyed with a disperse dye were increased significantly in the surface area and the total pore volume comparing with those of plasma treated only, but decreased in the average pore size. The increase of the surface area, after dyeing, of the plasma treated PET fibers was due to addition of the surface area of the dye itself to that of the PET fiber. The increase of the total pore volume of the plasma treated PET fibers by dyeing, which is the opposite result to the general idea that the pore volume of fibers would be reduced by occupation of dye molecules in the pores, could be explained by the free-volume model. This is that the amorphous region in the fiber expanded by occupation of dye molecules, and the marginal space surrounding dyes was generated as many smaller pores, and the decrease of the average pore size of the dyed sample also could be explained The decrease of the average pore size was caused by the splitting of a larger pore into smaller pores.