Grafting Poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) Branches onto Polyvinyl Alcohol to Promote its Adhesion and Film Properties

The objective of this study was to survey the influence of the grafted poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) branches on the sizing properties (adhesion and film properties) of PVA1799 to determine if the branches can improve the sizing properties and develop a new PVA-based size (PVA1799-g-PHEA) with a suitable grafting ratio for potential use in polyester/cotton warp sizing. The sizing properties of PVA1799-g-PHEA were estimated compared with PVA1799. The PVA1799-g-PHEA samples with the grafting ratios of 3.53 %, 6.74 %, 7.04 %, and 7.34 % were synthesized through graft polymerization of PVA1799 with different masses of HEA monomers at 40 ℃ using the Fe2+-H2O2 redox system by a dry process. The sample was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric (TG) analyses. FTIR analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of PHEA branches, SEM analysis pointed out that the surface morphology of PVA1799-g-PHEA and PVA1799 had no obvious difference, and TG analysis revealed that incorporating the PHEA branches promoted the thermal stability of PVA1799. Compared to PVA1799, the PVA1799-g-PHEA exhibited significantly higher bonding forces with polyester/cotton roving and greater film elongation. It also displayed a slight increase in film strength and a reduced film break time when exposed to hot water. This suggests that incorporating PHEA branches can enhance the sizing properties and desizability of PVA1799. These improvements were further enhanced by increasing the grafting ratio. Notably, the PVA1799-g-PHEA with the 7.34 % grafting ratio showed promising potential for sizing polyester/cotton warp yarns.