Finishing of polypropylene fibers with cyclodextrins and polyacrylic acid as a crosslinking agent

The present paper deals with the functionalization of polypropylene (PP) fibers with cyclodextrins (CDs) in the presence of polyacrylic acid (PAA) as a crosslinking agent. Evidence of modification was proved via the formation of a crosslinked polymer formed between PAA and CDs. This polymer physically adhered to the fiber network and was resistant to hot water washings. The influence of parameters involved in this specific textile processing, such as the curing conditions (temperature, time) and the CDs dilution of the impregnating bath were investigated. The PAA was then compared, in terms of functionalizing rate, to the citric acid (CTR) and the 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid, which are known as crosslinking agents. Fibers modified by PAA and four types of CDs were characterized by evaluating the contact angle with a polar liquid and by studying the hysteresis of damping of PP fibers (Cahn balance) with various functionalization rates. Infrared spectroscopy and morphological studies confirm the presence of the crosslinked CD polymer that coated on the fibers, and allowed us to evaluate the chemical heterogeneity of the functionalized surfaces. The mechanical characterization of the PP fabrics functionalized with various proportions of CDs revealed that the functionalization reaction does not affect the mechanical properties of the native fabric.