Kinetics Modeling and Mechanism of Organic Matter Absorption in Functional Fiber Based on Butyl Methacrylate-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate Copolymer and Low Density Polyethylene

Abstract

Functional fiber based on butyl methacrylate-hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer and low density polyethylene was prepared via the method of gelation-spinning, and then the kinetics model and mechanism of organic matter absorption into the functional fiber were investigated. The results show that a lot of microvoids are constructed within the cross section of the functional fiber, but the microvoids do not make a significant contribution to the absorption of organic matter. The functional fiber can absorb toluene at a quick rate, while it can absorb trichloroethylene and chloroform at a relatively slower rate. The swelling capability of the blend fiber in selected organic matter is weaker than the one of butyl methacrylate-hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer fiber, and the swelling behavior is controlled by stress relaxation in the amorphous portion of the polymer blend network. Furthermore, second-order kinetics model is more suitable for describing the process of organic matter absorption than first-order kinetics model.

Keywords:

• Absorption kinetics
• Blending
• Functional fiber
• Methacrylate copolymer
• Morphology
• Swelling

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Project number: 50673077).