The anti‐static poly(ethylene terephthalate) nanocomposite fiber by in situ polymerization: The thermo‐mechanical and electrical properties

Poly(ethylene phthalate) (PET)/nano‐antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) composites prepared via in situ polymerization were spun into fiber by the melt‐spinning process. ATO were in the form of loose agglomeration dispersing in the PET fibers and the sizes of loose agglomeration were smaller than 150 nm. Comparing with the neat PET, the tenacity of PET/ATO hybrid fibers was improved, and PET/ATO hybrid fibers had a lower elongation at break by adding nano‐ATO. The percolation threshold of PET/ATO hybrid fibers at room temperature was as low as 1.05 wt %, much lower than that of the composites filled with conventional conductive particles. The PET/ATO hybrid fiber exhibited volume resistivity of 4.9 × 10 8 Ω cm when the contents of ATO were 1 wt %. The ATO nanoparticles improved the thermal stability of PET fiber. The WAXD and DSC results suggested that ATO nanoparticles increase the degree of crystallinity of PET acting as the nucleating agent, which prohibited the thermal shrinkage of PET fiber.