Surface Functionalization of Electrospun Poly(butylene terephthalate) Fibers by Surface-Initiated Radical Polymerization

A facile surface modification procedure for electrospun poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) fibers by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP) is reported. Initiators are introduced through aminolysis and chemical vapor adsorption. SI‐ATRP is subsequently carried out to prepare a polymer‐grafted layer at the PBT fiber surface without altering the fiber geometry. After modification with a zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine), poly(3‐(N‐2‐methacryloyloxyethyl‐N,N‐dimethyl) ammonatopropanesulfonate), the surface is superhydrophilic. The surface properties are thermally stable due to the high melting temperature of the PBT crystallites and are maintained for a prolonged period. A facile surface modification procedure for electrospun poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) fibers by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP) is reported. Initiators were introduced through aminolysis and chemical vapor adsorption. SI‐ATRP was subsequently carried out to prepare a polymer‐grafted layer at the PBT fiber surface without altering the fiber geometry.