Organoclays assisted vat and disperse dyeing of poly(ethylene terephthalate) nanocomposite fabrics via melt spinning

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Polyethylene terephthalate nanocomposites containing six modified montmorillonite nanoclays were prepared by a melt compounding technique. The effect of intercalated compounds of montmorillonite on textile mechanical properties of resultant polyethylene terephthalate nanocomposite fabrics was investigated. Winding was not possible, when the polymers were first compounded with the desired amount of montmorillonite and then spun, as filament breakage occurred. Spinable polymer were only obtained by mixing polyethylene terephthalate master batches with 4 wt% montmorillonite, which contained tallow intercalating compound with pure untreated polyethylene terephthalate to a montmorillonite content of 0.5 wt%, thus decreasing the concentration of thermally degraded polymer chains. After spinning the fibres were drawn and knitted into fabric samples for further testing. The prepared polyethylene terephthalate nanocomposite fabrics using montmorillonite exhibited higher colour strength using vat and disperse dyes compared with those of the reference fabrics made from fibres spun without montmorillonite clay content and regular fabrics. The carbocyclic‐based vat dyes have higher colour strength values on polyethylene terephthalate nanocomposite fabrics if compared with heterocyclic‐based vat dyes. The colour fastness ratings for both vat and disperse dyeings secured very good to excellent washing and perspiration fastness on polyethylene terephthalate nanocomposite fabrics. All dyed fabrics showed excellent light fastness using vat and disperse dyes. The preparation of polyethylene terephthalate nanocomposite fabrics with improved textile mechanical and vat dyeing properties needs further investigations.