Surface Modification of Polyester Fiber Using Ozone Microbubbles

Abstract

Microbubbles with diameters less than 50 µm have some unique properties different from millimeter-sized bubbles. They are already used in various industrial applications, but their use in textile industries is limited. The ozone microbubbles produced by pressing gas through a porous film have a high oxidation potential. In this paper, we describe the surface modification of polyester by such bubbles. The concentration of dissolved ozone increases with increasing ozone gas concentration and decreasing water temperature. The degree of surface modification was estimated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cation dye-affinity (K/S). The effect on polyester fabrics increased with a higher concentration of ozone and lower temperature, partly also because ozone degrades in hot water. The apparent activation energy of the reaction between dissolved ozone and the polyester surface is constant and independent of the dissolved ozone concentration. The localized heating of the polyester surface enhances the modification efficiency exceptionally.