Nanofilled polypropylene fibres

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most widely used polymers for producing synthetic fibers, especially for technical applications. PP fibers are mostly used in different technical fields due to their excellent mechanical properties, high chemical stability, and processability. However, because of low surface energy, lack of reactive sites, and sensitivity to photo- or thermal oxidation, the polymer properties are insufficient for some applications. Therefore, several techniques for fiber modification have been reported, e.g. plasma treatment, chemical modification, and nanomodification, i.e. production of nanocoated and nanofilled materials. There is a wide variety of both synthetic and natural crystalline fillers that are able, under specific conditions, to influence the properties of PP. In PP nanocomposites, particles are dispersed on the nano-scale. The preparation of nanofilled fibers offers several possibilities, such as the creation of nanocomposite fibers by dispersing of nanoparticles into polymer solutions, the polymer melt blending of nanoparticles, in situ prepared nanoparticles within a polymeric substrate, etc. Nanomodification creates improved fiber characteristics, e.g. mechanical strength, thermal stability, the enhancement of barrier properties, fire resistance, ion exchange capability, etc., for use in different application fields.