Thermo-responsive Polyester Fabrics via Oxygen-plasma Graft Polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide

Plasma-induced graft copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) was investigated on polyester (PET) fabric to develop a thermo-responsive material. Oxygen plasma treatment was used to activate the fabric surface for graft polymerization of NIPAAm. Effects of plasma treatment parameters and the reaction conditions on the graft ratio were investigated. The surface chemical change was determined by infrared (FTIR-ATR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (EDS). Morphological changes on the fibers' surface were described using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The temperature stimuli-responsiveness of the fabric was characterized through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and water permeability measurement. It was found that the water permeability of the grafted fabric changes significantly at ̃32°C. The lower critical solution temperature of the grafted fabric is ̃32°C-33°C. The "switching effect" was also investigated.