An investigation for the performance of meta-aramid fiber blends treated in supercritical carbon dioxide fluid

The physicochemical performance of meta-aramid fiber blends treated in supercritical carbon dioxide fluid was studied at different temperatures. The effects of treatment temperatures on the surface morphology, wettability, chemical and crystal structures, thermal and antistatic properties were investigated by employing Scanning electron microscopy, Dynamic wetting measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, Thermal analysis and Static half period method, respectively. The result showed that the surface of the treated meta-aramid fiber blends was changed with the treatment temperature increasing and more mild grooves and stripes appeared. The dynamic wetting measurements showed that the water contact angles and absorption time for treated fibers were decreased with temperature increasing. The slight shifts of the characteristic bands of the treated meta-aramid fiber blends were observed in FT-IR spectra with the system temperature increasing. Meanwhile, XRD analysis showed that the diffraction intensities of treated samples were improved in the supercritical carbon dioxide fluid because some re-arrangements and re-crystallizations of the molecule chains generated. TG-DTG analysis indicated that the thermal property of meta-aramid fiber blends could be improved at various temperatures. In addition, supercritical carbon dioxide fluid had little negative influence on the physical and antistatic properties of the meta-aramid fiber blends.