Surface Functionalization of Polyester
AssigneesNorth Carolina State University, United Resource Recovery Corporation
InventorsCarlos D. Gutierrez, Ali Evren Ozcam, Richard John Spontak, Jan Genzer
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Abstract
Methods for surface treatment of polyester substrates are described. Treatment methods include adherence of a polymer layer on a surface of the polyester so as to increase the hydrophilic properties of the surface. Polymers can be polyelectrolytes that are adsorbed at the surface or polymer brushes that are polymerized at the surface. Further surface functionalization can include the adherence of inorganic nanoparticles to the surface. The polyester substrates can be recycled polyester such as recycled polyethylene terephthalate that has been subjected to a partial saponification reaction during the recycling process.
Claims21
A method for recycling polyester comprising:
- forming a slurry comprising polyester and an alkaline compound;
- saponifying only a portion of the polyester according to a saponification reaction between the polyester and the alkaline compound;
- forming a polymeric layer on the surface of the polyester that remains following the saponification reaction, wherein the formation of the polymeric layer increases the hydrophilicity of the polyester surface.
A method for functionalizing the surface of a polyester substrate, the method comprising:
- bonding an amino silane coupling agent to the surface of the polyester substrate, the amino silane coupling agent comprising silane groups;
- hydrolyzing the silane groups of the coupling agent to form silanol groups;
- bonding a polymerization initiator to the substrate via a reaction between the initiator and the silanol groups;
- polymerizing a monomer at the substrate surface according to a polymerization process to form a polymer brush at the surface of the polyester substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.