Amphiphlic polypropylene fibers with highly hydrophilic multi-grooved micro-structures through bicomponent melt spinning

• Amphiphilic polypropylene fibers with multi-grooved micro-structures were fabricated. • A novel mechanism of macromolecular chains interface implantation was proposed. • This mechanism for durable amphiphilicity could be implemented in engineering. • The amphiphilic multi-grooved fibers exhibit amplified strong capillary wicking effect. • The dilemma that polypropylene fiber is essentially impossible to dye was hopefully solved. Tunable surface amphiphilic polypropylene (PP) fibers and textiles with multi-grooved hydrophilic micro-structures have been prepared through a commercially scalable segmented pie bicomponent fiber melt spinning and post-treatment process. It was demonstrated that the molecular implantation of a modified polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) macromolecular chains onto the PP interface/interphase during the bicomponent melt-spinning process was responsible for the hydrophilicity inside the micro-channels (micro-groves) of the PP fibers. These hydrophilic channels brought about super capillary wicking effect through the PP fibers and fabrics that is much amplified than previous technologies to functional treatment of the fibers and fabrics via environmentally friendly aqueous processes. In aqueous dyeing treatment, for example, these multi-grooved novel amphiphilic fibers demonstrated a practical solution to the well-known dilemma that PP fiber is essentially impossible to dye due to its inherently low surface energy. Additionally, there is a great promise to expanded the amphiphilic PP to higher-value functionalities and wider-field applications.