Document Type : Original research

Authors

• Teo Ming Ting ¹
• Ebrahim Abouzari Lotf ^{2, 3}
• Mohamed Mahmoud Nasef ^{3, 4}
• Wen Soong Lok ¹
• Thye Foo Choo ¹
• Nur Athilah Kamarudin ¹
• Ee Ling Aw ¹
• Noor Ashikin Mohamed ³

¹ Radiation Processing Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

² Trinseo Deutschland Anlagengesellschaft mbH, Industriestraße 1, 77836 Rheinmünster, Germany

³ Center of Hydrogen Energy, Institute of Future Energy, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 54100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

⁴ Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,

Abstract

Bicomponent polyethylene (PE)/polypropylene (PP) non-woven sheets made from sheath-core fibres were modified by radiation-induced grafting (RIG) of vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) monomer in both emulsion- and solvent-mediated systems under varying conditions. The key grafting parameters, including reaction medium, monomer concentration, absorbed dose, and temperature, were systematically investigated to control the grafting yield (GY%) and its distribution across fibres. The structural, morphological, and chemical properties of the resulting poly(VBC) grafted fibres were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and contact angle measurements. The results demonstrated that the reaction medium significantly influenced both the grafting yield (GY%) and graft distribution. Diffusion of poly(VBC) occurred similarly across the sheath and core; however, distinct differences in grafting rates and yields were observed between the emulsion and solvent systems. Under emulsion conditions, a higher density of poly(VBC) grafts was incorporated into the PE sheath than into the PP core compared to solvent-mediated grafting, whereas the side-chain grafts exhibited a generally homogeneous distribution throughout the bicomponent fibres in both systems. These findings demonstrate an effective approach for tuning the structure and morphology of PE/PP bicomponent fibres, favouring emulsion system, offering valuable insights for the design of advanced functional materials with promising applications in environmental remediation and electrochemical energy systems.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• Sheath-core bicomponent polyethylene/polypropylene fibres
• radiation-induced grafting
• vinylbenzyl chloride
• effect of grafting medium
• precursor for functional graft copolymers

Main Subjects

• Olefin polymerization and copolymerization