Modification of Jute Fiber with Vinyl Acetate and Methyl Vinyl Ketone for Textile Applications

Research Article

Adv Res Text Eng. 2023; 8(1): 1082.

Modification of Jute Fiber with Vinyl Acetate and Methyl Vinyl Ketone for Textile Applications

Md. Hasinur Rahman; Md. Jahangir Alam; Md. Ibrahim H Mondal*

Polymer and Textile Research Lab, Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh

*Corresponding author: Md. Ibrahim H Mondal Polymer and Textile Research Lab, Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh. Email: mihmondal@gmail.com; mihmondal@yahoo.com

Received: June 08, 2023 Accepted: July 07, 2023 Published: July 14, 2023

Abstract

In the present study, the bleached jute fiber was been modified with Vinyl Acetate (VA) and Methyl Vinyl Ketone (MVK) by graft co-polymerization in an aqueous medium using potassium persulphate as an initiator, under the catalytic influence of FeSO4 in the presence air to improve physicochemical properties. The maximum graft yield and grafting efficiency at the optimized condition for VA and MVK are 26.0%, 11.1% and 10.4%, 3.7% respectively. The graft yield and grafting efficiency of VA-modified fiber were higher than that of MVK-modified field fiber. The grafted fiber was characterized by FTIR, SEM and TGA. FTIR spectra of VA and MVK modified fiber have peaks at 1741cm-1 and 1714cm-1 respectively than the unmodified jute indicating the incorporation of vinyl monomer with the cellulosic jute fiber. By observing thermograms, the degradation temperature of bleached jute fiber was 318.7°C and that for VA and MVK modified fibers was 320°C and 325°C respectively. The breaking strength of bleached fiber was 16.02kg/yarn but VA and MVK modified fibers were 17.3 and 17.00kg/yarn respectively. The dye absorption by modified fiber was slightly decreased than bleached fiber due to the increased hydrophobicity. The wash fastness with soap solution decreased with the increase in washing temperature. The color fastness test of dyed bleached and modified jute fibers spotting with alkalis, and acids were satisfactory with some exceptions. Thus, the modification improves the physicochemical properties of the jute fiber for textile applications.

Keywords: Jute fiber; Vinyl acetate; Methyl vinyl ketone; Grafting; Textile application

Introduction

Textile is a primary requirement of human beings. Humans started using clothing to protect their bodies from adverse conditions, to look civilized and distinguished and to feel comfortable. With progress in time, society began to demand multifunctionality in clothing, and thus, in today’s innovative world, value addition is very much sought after [1]. Fabrics were therefore treated chemically or mechanically to get various functionality on them [2]. The functional modifications and speciality properties of textiles rely closely on their surface chemical and physical structures that vary in keeping with variations in the polymer composition, structures of fibers, and fiber assemblies and their treatment [3-5]. Textile fibers are natural or synthetic structures that can be spun into yarn and woven, knitted, or bonded into the fabric [6]. As a consequence of growing concerns related to the adverse effects of synthetic materials on the environment and human ecology, natural fibers attract more and more interest as an alternative to petro-based counterparts [7,8]. Aside from being renewable, biodegradable, and nontoxic, natural fibers have a variety of other advantages, including availability, low density, non-abrasiveness, combustibility, increased energy recovery, higher CO2 sequestration, and cost efficiency [3,9,10].

Jute (Corchorus sp.) is a major source of natural fibers, which represent about 80% of the global production of bast fibers [11]. It is a natural, long, and soft vegetable fiber with a golden silky shine also termed Golden Fiber. Lignin, cellulose, waxes, pectin, protein, nitrogenous chemicals, and mineral and inorganic substances make up the majority of the components of jute fiber [12-14]. Jute fibers are completely biodegradable and recyclable materials, i.e. environmentally friendly [15]. It is a lignocellulosic, multicellular bast fiber which is mostly utilized for packaging as well as other varied textile and non-textile applications, including technical textiles. Decorative upholstery items and household textiles made of jute are now also utilized for furniture [12,16]. The most important fashionable feature of jute products is the natural golden color that provides an elegant look and aesthetics [17]. In addition to its technical benefits including high tensile strength, initial modulus, moisture recovery, outstanding sound and heat insulation characteristics, good dimensional stability, harmlessness and good dye acceptance, jute fiber is agro-renewable, biodegradable, and easily accessible at affordable prices [18,19]. It also has certain disadvantages including relative coarseness, brittleness and harshness in feel, considerable range in fiber length and fineness, and susceptibility to yellowing when exposed to sunshine [19,20]. Researchers have been working to address the inherent shortcomings of jute fiber by employing graft co-polymerization with a variety of monomers, including acrylate [14,21,22], amide [13,23], silane [24], acrylic acid [25], nitrile [26], etc. However, most of the time, it was demonstrated that each monomer only contributed to solve one specific problem. Therefore, researchers are looking for a particular modifying agent that can help to reduce all the drawbacks of jute fiber in order to make it more sustainable. In the present work, the effect of grafting Vinyl Acetate and Methyl Vinyl Ketone onto jute fiber has been investigated. The textile characteristics of the grafted fibers, e.g. dyeing properties, tensile properties, thermal stability, and fastness properties of jute fibers are also studied.

Experimental

Materials: Jute fiber [Corchorus Olitorious (Tossa variety)] was collected from the local market in Bangladesh. Anhydrous sodium carbonate, sodium chlorite (NaClO2, 80%), sulphuric acid (H2SO4,98%), formic acid (90%), ferrous sulphate (FeSO4, 7H2O, 99.5%), vinyl monomers [Vinyl Acetate (VA) and Methyl Vinyl Ketone (MVK)] were purchased from BDH (England). Dyestuffs were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (USA). Glacial acetic acid (CH3COOH, 99.7%), sodium meta-bisulphite or sodium bisulphite (Na2S2O5, 99.9%) was purchased from Merck, German.

Method of Modification of Jute Fiber

The graft co-polymerization of bleached jute fiber was carried out in a 100ml stoppered Erlenmeyer flask. Polymerization was done with 250-300 % monomer, 21-22% potassium persulfate as initiator, and 5-8% ferrous sulfate as the catalyst based on the weight of the fiber, at 80-90 °C for 120 min, in the fiber-liquor ratio of 1:30. At the end of the desired reaction, the fibers were washed with hot distilled water to remove the attached homo-polymer on the jute sample and dried at room temperature [13,14].

Determination of Percent Graft Yield and Grafting Efficiency

Graft yield percentage and grafting efficiency percentage were calculated according to the following formula [21].

Graft yield (%) =

Grafting efficiency (%)

Where A is the weight of the grafted jute fiber after modification, B is the weight of ungrafted jute fiber before modification and C is the weight of the total monomer used.

Moisture Content Study

One gm of jute sample was dried at 105°C in an electric oven for one hour and then the sample was kept in a desiccator for 30 min and finally, the sample was weighed. The difference in weight gave the amount of moisture. The percentage of moisture is calculated by the following formula [13,14]:

Moisture, % =

Where A is the initial weight of the sample and B is the weight of the moisture-free sample.

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Analysis

FTIR spectra of bleached and modified jute fibers were determined using Shimadzu-8900, FTIR Spectrophotometer (Kyoto, Japan). Samples were placed in the path of an infrared beam of wave number in the range of 400-4000 cm-1.

Thermal Behavior

Comparative thermal stabilities of bleached and modified jute fibers were studied using a Perkin Elmer simultaneous thermal analyzer (STA 8000, Germany). The tests were conducted between 30-500oC under an inert atmosphere (Nitrogen). The heating rate and the airflow rate were 20° C/min and 200 ml/min respectively.

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the microstructure and the surface morphology of treated as well as untreated jute fiber. SEM micrographs were obtained by FEI Quanta Inspect, Model: S50 and samples were coated with silver.

Colour Fastness Test: Sunlight, Water, Acid and Alkali

Color fastness to acids, alkalis, sunlight and washing with soap solution of bleached, VA and MVK modified dyed jute fibers was assessed by Greyscale.

Colour Fastness to Sunlight

A light fastness test was carried out on both the dyed and undyed bleached and modified jute fibers. Specimens of the fibers were attached separately on a board by a glass rod and placed under the sun in open air for six hours each day and continued for 200 hours without any protection from weathering, but were protected from rain, dew, etc. After every 40 hours, the change in color of the specimens was assessed by the Greyscale with respect to control [14,21].

Colour Fastness to Washing

A bath was prepared with 5gm of wheel soap per liter of distilled water. The fiber liquor ratio was 1:50. One gram of dyed jute fiber of length 10 cm was entered in the bath and the bath temperature was maintained at 40°C for 30 minutes. The bath solution was kept under agitation. After treatment the fiber was washed thoroughly with distilled water and dried in air at room temperature. The change in color was assessed with the Greyscale. Similarly wash fastness was assessed at 60°, 80°, 90° and 100°C [9, 27].

Colourfastness to Acid and Alkali Spotting

1. Acid, alkali, undyed and dyed bleached and modified jute fibers were combed and compressed enough to form a sheet 10cm×4cm. The specimens were spotted with two drops of acid or alkali solution at room temperature. The surfaces of the specimens were gently rubbed with the glass rod to ensure penetration. The specimens were dried hanging them in air at room temperature. The change in color of the specimens was assessed after drying with Grey scale [9,27]. In the same way, the change in color was assessed by the solution given belHydrochloric acid solution containing 50 gm per liter.

2. Acetic acid solution containing 300 gm of glacial acetic acid per liter.

3. Sodium carbonate solution containing 100 gm anhydrous sodium carbonate per liter.

4. Sodium hydroxide solution containing 50 gm of sodium hydroxide per liter.

5. Ammonia solution containing 10% of ammonia.

6. Formic acid solution containing 300 gm per liter.

Results and Discussion

Dyeing Behavior and Mechanism of Modification

Bleached jute fiber was chemically modified using vinyl acetate and methyl vinyl ketone monomers at varied monomer, catalyst, and initiator concentrations, duration, and temperature. The percent graft yield increased with an increase of monomer concentration up to 250% for VA and 300% for MVK and thereafter decreased (Figure 1). It is evident that the increase in monomer concentration in an aqueous medium increased the reaction sites and complexation of jute with VA and MVK enhanced reactivity due to the formation of donor-acceptor complex. However, increased monomer concentrations in the polymerization medium favored molecular collision, thereby enhancing polymerization in general or homopolymer formation in particular. As a result, the decrease in graft yield at a given monomer concentration suggests that homo-polymerization prevails over grafting at higher VA and MVK concentrations [21,22,28].