Structure-properties relationship of poly(ethylene terephthalate) wool-type fibres

Two PET wool-type fibres were studied for this research, i.e. a normal wool-type and a low-pilling modification. The structural morphology and crystalline orientation of the fibres were investigated by means of wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS), density measurements and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The degree of crystallinity, crystallite orientation, apparent crystallite dimensions and micro-void system were determined by x-ray scattering. Birefringence measurements were used to study the average molecular orientation and the orientation of macromolecular chain segments in the amorphous regions. In addition, PET samples were conventionally dyed and the effect of the structure on colour was followed using colorimetry. Significant differences between the two PET wool fibre types were observed; i.e. crystallinity is higher for the standard PET wool fibre type, the crystallites are slightly larger and better oriented, long periods are larger, the orientation of molecular segments in non-crystalline phase is higher, and bigger voids are formed. The observed structure gives rise to fibres higher tenacity and higher bending stiffness.