Double Plasma Treatment-Induced Graft Polymerization of Carbohydrated Monomers on Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Fibers

• Published in: Langmuir 2007-09, Vol.23 (20), p.10348-10352
• Main Authors: Bech, Loïc, Lepoittevin, Bénédicte, El Achhab, Abdelhakim, Lepleux, Emmanuel, Teulé-Gay, Lionel, Boisse-Laporte, Caroline, Roger, Philippe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Surface physical chemistry
• ISSN: 0743-7463; 1520-5827
• DOI: 10.1021/la701400b

This study deals with the grafting of carbohydrate monomers on poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers by double argon plasma treatment. Two monomers were used:  allyl α-d-galactopyranoside and 2-methacryloxyethyl glucoside. The quantity of grafted carbohydrates was determined by phenol/sulfuric acid colorimetric titration. The graft density was observed to vary according to the monomer used. Allyl α-d-galactopyranoside yields to smaller graft densities compared to 2-methacryloxyethyl glucoside, suggesting transfer reactions occurring at the surface with allyl α-d-galactopyranoside. Fibers with the highest graft levels were obtained with the higher monomer concentration and the lower quantity of fiber treated in a plasma reactor. The grafting density can be modulated by the monomer concentration and mass of fiber exposed in the plasma reactor. For 0.5 mg of fibers, the graft densities for 23 and 68 mM allyl α-d-galactopyranoside are, respectively, 18 and 35 nmol/cm2. For 0.5 mg of fibers, the graft densities for 19 and 38 mM 2-methacryloxyethyl glucoside are, respectively, 150 and 250 nmol/cm2. Comparative study without the preactivation treatment shows the efficiency of the preactivation:  for a mass of fiber of 0.5 mg and a 2-methacryloxyethyl glucoside concentration of 38 mM, the grafting density without plasma pretreatment is 38 nmol/cm2. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed the anchoring of the glycopolymer onto the poly(ethylene terephthalate) surfaces. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy pictures indicated their morphological changes.