High-tenacity polyester fabric and method for making the same

Abstract

This invention relates to the fields of polymer materials and textile engineering, and discloses a high-toughness polyester fabric and its preparation method. The fabric is composed of polyester fibers, a borate-aluminum phytate-silica doped modifier, hydroquinone, and various auxiliaries. The borate-aluminum phytate-silica doped modifier is composed of a dynamic network of borate esters formed by boric acid and polyvinyl alcohol, a coordination structure formed by phytic acid and aluminum ions, and silica doping. By constructing a synergistic reinforcement system with dynamic reconstruction capabilities and multi-point interfacial interactions, and combining this with the regulation of intermolecular forces by hydroquinone, the modified structure is uniformly distributed at the interface and within the polyester fibers, thereby significantly improving the fabric's elongation at break, impact resistance, fatigue resistance, and abrasion resistance. The method of this invention is simple, highly applicable, and yields a polyester fabric with excellent comprehensive performance and promising application prospects.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the fields of polymer materials and textile engineering technology, specifically to a high-toughness polyester fabric and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] Polyester fiber is a polyethylene terephthalate fiber obtained by the condensation polymerization of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. Due to its high tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and excellent dimensional stability, it is widely used in clothing fabrics, industrial fabrics, and composite material reinforcement. However, the regular molecular chain structure and high crystallinity of polyester restrict chain segment movement, making it prone to local stress concentration under external forces. This results in low elongation at break and insufficient impact resistance. In particular, it is prone to microcrack propagation under repeated bending, stretching, or complex load environments, limiting its further development in high-toughness and high-durability applications.

[0003] Currently, modification methods for improving the toughness of polyester fabrics mainly fall into two categories: physical blending modification and chemical surface modification. Physical blending often improves flexibility by introducing polyethylene glycol, elastomers, or low-molecular-weight plasticizers; however, this method easily leads to problems such as decreased material strength, reduced heat resistance, and migration / precipitation. Inorganic nanofillers, such as nano-silica and alumina, can improve material rigidity and abrasion resistance, but due to their poor compatibility with the polyester matrix interface, they are prone to agglomeration, leading to increased interface defects and ultimately reducing the overall toughness of the material. On the other hand, while surface silane coupling or simple grafting modification can improve interfacial bonding to some extent, the modified layer structure is simple and lacks a multi-scale synergistic mechanism, making it difficult to achieve effective stress transfer and energy dissipation.

[0004] Existing technologies generally lack structural units with dynamic adjustment capabilities and multi-component collaboratively constructed network systems, making it impossible to achieve structural reconstruction and stress dispersion during stress, thus making it difficult to simultaneously achieve high strength and high toughness. Therefore, developing a modification system based on multiple synergistic mechanisms of dynamic crosslinking, coordination, and inorganic doping, and effectively introducing it into the interface and internal structure of polyester fibers to construct a multi-scale network structure with energy dissipation capabilities and interface reinforcement effects, is of great significance for improving the overall performance of polyester fabrics. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To overcome the problems of low elongation at break, poor impact resistance, and insufficient interfacial bonding in polyester fabrics mentioned above, the present invention aims to provide a high-toughness polyester fabric and its preparation method. The present invention uses a dynamic cross-linked network of borate esters formed by boric acid and polyvinyl alcohol as a flexible reconfigurable matrix, combines phytic acid and aluminum ions to form a multi-point coordination structure to enhance interfacial interaction, and introduces nano-silica to construct an inorganic doped reinforcing phase. Simultaneously, hydroquinone is used to regulate the inter-chain forces, thereby forming a multi-scale synergistic reinforcing structure with dynamic reconfiguration capability and stress transfer function at the polyester fiber interface and within the fabric. The present invention significantly improves the elongation at break, impact resistance, and durability of the fabric.

[0006] The objective of this invention can be achieved through the following technical solutions: A high-toughness polyester fabric, comprising the following raw materials in parts by weight: 80-120 parts polyester fiber, 10-40 parts borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modifier, 3-20 parts hydroquinone, 1-10 parts nano silica, 1-10 parts γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 5-20 parts glycerol, and 30-120 parts deionized water; wherein the borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modifier is a synergistic reinforcing structure consisting of a borate ester dynamic network formed by boric acid and polyvinyl alcohol, a coordination structure formed by phytic acid and aluminum ions, and doped with silica.

[0007] Optionally, the borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modified material comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 10-40 parts boric acid, 20-80 parts polyvinyl alcohol, 5-25 parts phytic acid, 2-15 parts aluminum salt, 5-20 parts nano silica, and 30-100 parts deionized water.

[0008] Optionally, the preparation method of the borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modified material includes the following steps: (1) Polyvinyl alcohol and boric acid were added to deionized water and mixed to obtain a borate ester precursor system; (2) Phytic acid and aluminum salt were added to the borate ester precursor system for a mixed reaction to obtain a coordination-modified system; (3) Add nano-silica to the coordination modification system for dispersion treatment to obtain borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modified material.

[0009] Optionally, the reaction conditions for step (1) are: temperature of 88°C, time of 2 hours, stirring speed of 350 rpm, and pH of the system of 6.5.

[0010] Optionally, the reaction conditions in step (2) are a temperature of 55°C, a time of 1.5 h, a stirring speed of 400 rpm, and a system pH of 4.2.

[0011] Optionally, the reaction conditions in step (3) are: temperature of 60°C, stirring speed of 500 rpm, time of 1.5 h, and ultrasonic dispersion time of 20 min.

[0012] Optionally, a method for preparing a high-tenacity polyester fabric includes the following steps: S1, polyester fibers are dispersed in deionized water, followed by the addition of γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane for surface modification to obtain activated polyester fibers; S2, add borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modifier, hydroquinone, nano silica and glycerol to the system and mix to obtain composite finishing solution; S3 involves immersing activated polyester fibers in a composite finishing solution for treatment, followed by drying and heat setting to obtain a high-toughness polyester fabric.

[0013] Optionally, the reaction conditions for step S1 are: temperature of 60–75°C, time of 1–2 h, stirring speed of 250–400 rpm, and pH of the system of 4.5–6.0.

[0014] Optionally, the reaction conditions in step S2 are a temperature of 65–80°C, a time of 1–3 h, and a stirring speed of 300–500 rpm.

[0015] Optionally, the reaction conditions for step S3 are: impregnation temperature of 70-85°C for 0.5-2 hours, drying temperature of 90-110°C for 10-30 minutes, and heat setting temperature of 120-140°C for 2-5 minutes.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are: This invention constructs a multi-synergistic system comprising a dynamic cross-linked network of borate esters, a multi-point coordination structure of phytic acid-aluminum ions, and a nano-silica-doped reinforcing phase. This system forms a reconfigurable multi-scale network structure at the interface and within polyester fibers. The borate ester bonds undergo reversible breakage and recombination under stress, achieving stress relief and energy dissipation. The phytic acid-aluminum coordination structure provides multi-point interfacial anchoring, significantly improving the bonding strength between the fiber and the modified phase. Nano-silica acts as a rigid filler, forming dispersed reinforcing nodes that effectively hinder crack propagation paths. Simultaneously, hydroquinone enhances inter-chain forces and regulates stress transfer through hydrogen bonding and aromatic interactions. This enables the material to achieve a synergistic mechanism of "stress dispersion-energy dissipation-structural reconstruction" during tensile and impact testing, thereby significantly improving elongation at break, impact resistance, and cycle durability without reducing the original strength, demonstrating a superior overall performance improvement compared to single-modification systems. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 The image shows a comparison of the infrared spectra of polyester fiber and polyester fiber modified with borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doping. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present invention will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Equivalent adjustments made without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention should also be considered to fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0020] Example 1: The purpose of this example is to verify the basic improvement effect of the system of the present invention on the toughness of polyester fabric under low addition amount and mild reaction conditions.

[0021] S1, 20 parts of polyvinyl alcohol and 30 parts of deionized water were mixed and stirred at 250 rpm for 1 h at 60 °C to dissolve them. Then, 10 parts of boric acid were added and the reaction was continued for 1 h to form a borate ester precursor system. Next, 5 parts of phytic acid and 2 parts of aluminum salt were added and stirred at 40 °C for 1 h to form a coordination structure. Finally, 5 parts of nano-silica were added, stirred at 50 °C for 1 h and ultrasonically dispersed for 10 min to obtain a borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modified product. S2, add 10 parts of the above modified material, 3 parts of hydroquinone, 1 part of nano silica and 5 parts of glycerol to 30 parts of deionized water, and stir at 300 rpm for 1 h at 65°C to obtain a composite finishing solution. S3. Add 80 parts of polyester fiber to the composite finishing solution obtained in step S2, immerse at 70°C for 0.5 h, then dry at 90°C for 10 min, and heat set at 120°C for 2 min to obtain high-toughness polyester fabric.

[0022] Example 2: The purpose of this example is to obtain a polyester fabric with optimal synergistic effect of each component and the best comprehensive mechanical properties and toughness.

[0023] S1, 50 parts of polyvinyl alcohol and 65 parts of deionized water were mixed and stirred at 350 rpm for 2 hours at 88°C to ensure complete dissolution. Then, 25 parts of boric acid were added and reacted for 2 hours to form a stable borate ester network. Next, 15 parts of phytic acid and 8 parts of aluminum salt were added and stirred at 55°C for 1.5 hours to form a multi-point coordination structure. Finally, 12 parts of nano-silica were added and stirred at 500 rpm for 1.5 hours at 60°C and ultrasonically dispersed for 20 minutes to obtain the borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modified material. Figure 1A comparison of the infrared spectra before and after modification shows that the modified sample exhibits a significantly enhanced and broadened –OH absorption peak at 3400 cm⁻¹, indicating enhanced hydrogen bonding and the formation of a dynamic borate ester structure. The absorption in the 1000–1100 cm⁻¹ region is significantly deepened, attributed to the superimposed vibrations of Si–O–Si, P–O, and C–O bonds, indicating the successful introduction of silica doping and phytic acid coordination structures. A new B–O–C characteristic peak appears near 980 cm⁻¹, confirming the formation of borate ester bonds. Simultaneously, Si–O and Al–O characteristic peaks appear at 800 cm⁻¹ and 600 cm⁻¹, respectively, indicating the successful construction of inorganic and coordination structures. Overall, this demonstrates the effective formation of a multi-synergistic modified structure. S2, add 25 parts of the above modified material, 10 parts of hydroquinone, 5 parts of nano silica and 12 parts of glycerol to 75 parts of deionized water, and stir at 400 rpm for 2 hours at 70°C to obtain a composite finishing solution. S3. Add 100 parts of polyester fiber to the composite finishing solution obtained in step S2, immerse at 75°C for 1 hour, then dry at 100°C for 20 minutes, and heat set at 130°C for 3 minutes to obtain a high-toughness polyester fabric.

[0024] Example 3: The purpose of this example is to verify the ultimate improvement effect of the system of the present invention on the toughness and durability of polyester fabric under high addition amount and strengthening reaction conditions.

[0025] S1, 80 parts of polyvinyl alcohol and 100 parts of deionized water were mixed and stirred at 400 rpm for 2 hours at 95°C until completely dissolved. Then, 40 parts of boric acid were added and reacted for 3 hours to form a borate ester network with high cross-linking density. Next, 25 parts of phytic acid and 15 parts of aluminum salt were added and stirred at 70°C for 2 hours to form a dense coordination structure. Finally, 20 parts of nano-silica were added and stirred at 600 rpm for 2 hours at 70°C and ultrasonically dispersed for 30 minutes to obtain the borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modified product. S2, add 40 parts of the above modified material, 20 parts of hydroquinone, 10 parts of nano silica and 20 parts of glycerol to 120 parts of deionized water, and stir at 500 rpm for 3 hours at 80°C to obtain a composite finishing solution. S3. Add 120 parts of polyester fiber to the composite finishing solution obtained in step S2, immerse at 85°C for 2 hours, then dry at 110°C for 30 minutes, and heat set at 140°C for 5 minutes to obtain high-toughness polyester fabric.

[0026] Comparative Example 1: The purpose of this comparative example is to verify the effect of a single borate ester dynamic network on the performance of polyester fabrics.

[0027] S1, 50 parts of polyvinyl alcohol and 65 parts of deionized water are mixed and stirred at 350 rpm for 2 hours at 88°C to fully dissolve the polyvinyl alcohol. Then, 25 parts of boric acid are added and reacted for 2 hours to form a borate ester network. Phytic acid, aluminum salt and nano silica are not added to obtain a single borate ester modified product. S2, add 25 parts of the above modified material, 10 parts of hydroquinone, 5 parts of nano silica and 12 parts of glycerol to 75 parts of deionized water, and stir at 400 rpm for 2 hours at 70°C to obtain a composite finishing solution. S3. Add 100 parts of polyester fiber to the composite finishing solution obtained in step S2, immerse at 75°C for 1 hour, then dry at 100°C for 20 minutes, and heat set at 130°C for 3 minutes to obtain polyester fabric.

[0028] Comparative Example 2: The purpose of this comparative example is to verify the changes in system performance when the phytic acid-aluminum coordination structure is missing.

[0029] S1, 50 parts of polyvinyl alcohol and 65 parts of deionized water were mixed and stirred at 350 rpm for 2 hours at 88°C to fully dissolve the mixture. Then, 25 parts of boric acid were added and reacted for 2 hours to form a borate ester network. Next, 12 parts of nano-silica were added and stirred at 500 rpm for 1.5 hours at 60°C and ultrasonically dispersed for 20 minutes. Phytic acid and aluminum salts were not added to obtain the borate ester-silica modified product. S2, add 25 parts of the above modified material, 10 parts of hydroquinone, 5 parts of nano silica and 12 parts of glycerol to 75 parts of deionized water, and stir at 400 rpm for 2 hours at 70°C to obtain a composite finishing solution. S3. Add 100 parts of polyester fiber to the composite finishing solution obtained in step S2, immerse at 75°C for 1 hour, then dry at 100°C for 20 minutes, and heat set at 130°C for 3 minutes to obtain polyester fabric.

[0030] Comparative Example 3: The purpose of this comparative example is to verify the effect of the small organic molecule hydroquinone on the system performance.

[0031] S1, 50 parts of polyvinyl alcohol and 65 parts of deionized water were mixed and stirred at 350 rpm for 2 hours at 88°C to ensure complete dissolution. Then, 25 parts of boric acid were added and reacted for 2 hours to form a stable borate ester network. Next, 15 parts of phytic acid and 8 parts of aluminum salt were added and stirred at 55°C for 1.5 hours to form a multi-point coordination structure. Finally, 12 parts of nano-silica were added and stirred at 500 rpm for 1.5 hours at 60°C and ultrasonically dispersed for 20 minutes to obtain the borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modified material. S2, add 25 parts of the above modified material, 5 parts of nano silica and 12 parts of glycerol to 75 parts of deionized water, stir at 400 rpm for 2 hours at 70°C, without adding hydroquinone, to obtain the composite finishing solution. S3. Add 100 parts of polyester fiber to the composite finishing solution obtained in step S2, immerse at 75°C for 1 hour, then dry at 100°C for 20 minutes, and heat set at 130°C for 3 minutes to obtain polyester fabric.

[0032] Performance testing: 1. Method for testing elongation at break The polyester fabrics obtained in the examples and comparative examples were cut into strips measuring 150mm × 20mm, with consistent thickness, and conditioned for 24 hours in a standard environment of 23℃ and 50% relative humidity. Testing was performed using an electronic universal testing machine with a clamping distance of 100mm and a tensile speed of 100mm / min until the sample broke. The elongation at fracture was recorded. Five parallel samples were selected from each group for testing. Outliers were removed, and the average value was taken as the final result to evaluate the material's ductility and toughness.

[0033] 2. Impact resistance test method The fabrics used in the examples and comparative examples were stacked to a thickness of 2 mm, cut into 100 mm × 100 mm specimens, and placed in a standard environment for 24 hours. A drop hammer impact tester was used, with an impact head mass of 1 kg and an impact head diameter of 20 mm. Impacts were performed from different heights, gradually increasing until the specimen showed penetrating failure. The corresponding impact heights were recorded and converted into impact energy. Each group of samples was tested three times, and the average value was taken as the impact resistance performance index to evaluate the material's ability to resist instantaneous impact loads.

[0034] 3. Cyclic bending durability test method The fabric samples used in the examples and comparative examples were cut into 100mm × 20mm specimens and tested at 23℃. A bending fatigue testing machine was used, with a bending angle of 180° reciprocating bending, a bending radius of 5mm, and a bending frequency of 60 times / min. Bending continued until visible cracks appeared on the specimen surface or the specimen completely broke, and the number of bending cycles was recorded. Each group of samples was tested 3 times, and the average value was taken as the final result to evaluate the fatigue resistance and long-term stability of the material.

[0035] 4. Test methods for wear resistance The fabrics used in the examples and comparative examples were cut into circular specimens with a diameter of 50 mm and conditioned for 24 hours under standard conditions. Testing was conducted using a Martindale abrasion tester with a loading pressure of 9 kPa. The friction fabric was a standard wool fabric, and the friction trajectory was a Lissajous figure. The number of friction cycles was recorded when the specimens showed signs of yarn breakage, significant pilling, or abrasion. Each group of samples was tested three times, and the average value was taken as the abrasion resistance index to evaluate the material's abrasion resistance and surface stability during actual use.

[0036] Table 1 Performance test results of different samples

[0037] As shown in Table 1, there are significant differences between the examples and the comparative examples in various performance indicators. The examples all show better overall performance than the comparative examples. In particular, Example 2 achieves the highest level in terms of elongation at break (92%), impact resistance (65 kJ / m²), cyclic bending (8600 times), and abrasion resistance (26000 times). This indicates that the synergistic modification system constructed in this invention can significantly improve the overall performance of polyester fabrics.

[0038] In terms of elongation at break and impact resistance, the elongation at break of Examples 1-3 were 68%, 92%, and 80%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of Comparative Examples 1-3 (52%, 58%, and 60%). Meanwhile, the impact resistance of Examples 1-3 was 42 kJ / m², 65 kJ / m², and 55 kJ / m², respectively, which were also significantly better than those of Comparative Examples 1-3 (30 kJ / m², 34 kJ / m², and 36 kJ / m²). This indicates that the multiple synergistic structures formed by the borate ester dynamic network, phytic acid aluminum coordination structure, and silica doping can effectively alleviate stress concentration and improve the ductility and impact resistance of the material, with Example 2 showing the most significant performance improvement.

[0039] In terms of cyclic bending durability, Examples 1-3 had 5200, 8600, and 7100 bending cycles, respectively, which were significantly higher than the 3600, 4200, and 4500 cycles of Comparative Examples 1-3. In particular, Example 2 improved by more than 5000 cycles compared to Comparative Example 1, indicating that the system can achieve stress dispersion through dynamic bond reconstruction and multi-point coordination during repeated stress, thereby significantly delaying the initiation and propagation of cracks. In contrast, the comparative examples, due to the lack of key synergistic structures, had significantly reduced fatigue life.

[0040] In terms of wear resistance, the wear resistance cycles of Examples 1-3 were 18,000, 26,000, and 22,000, respectively, which were all higher than those of Comparative Examples 1-3 (14,000, 16,000, and 17,000). This indicates that silica doping and interface reinforcement effectively improved the surface stability and wear resistance of the material. Among them, Example 2 showed the best performance, demonstrating excellent wear resistance.

[0041] In summary, this invention significantly improves the elongation at break, impact resistance, cycle durability, and abrasion resistance of polyester fabrics by constructing a dynamic network of borate esters, alumina phytate coordination structure, and silica doping, thereby achieving good synergy among various properties and demonstrating comprehensive performance advantages over single modification systems.

Claims

1. A high-tenacity polyester fabric, characterized in that, The fabric comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 80-120 parts of polyester fiber, 10-40 parts of borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modifier, 3-20 parts of hydroquinone, 1-10 parts of nano-silica, 1-10 parts of γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 5-20 parts of glycerol, and 30-120 parts of deionized water; the borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modifier is a synergistic reinforcing structure consisting of a borate ester dynamic network formed by boric acid and polyvinyl alcohol, a coordination structure formed by phytic acid and aluminum ions, and doped with silica.

2. The high-toughness polyester fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that, The borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modified material comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 10-40 parts boric acid, 20-80 parts polyvinyl alcohol, 5-25 parts phytic acid, 2-15 parts aluminum salt, 5-20 parts nano silica, and 30-100 parts deionized water.

3. A high-toughness polyester fabric according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The preparation method of the borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modified material includes the following steps: (1) Polyvinyl alcohol and boric acid were added to deionized water and mixed to obtain a borate ester precursor system; (2) Phytic acid and aluminum salt were added to the borate ester precursor system for a mixed reaction to obtain a coordination-modified system; (3) Add nano-silica to the coordination modification system for dispersion treatment to obtain borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modified material.

4. The high-toughness polyester fabric according to claim 3, characterized in that, The reaction conditions for step (1) are: temperature 88℃, time 2h, stirring speed 350rpm, and system pH 6.

5.

5. The high-toughness polyester fabric according to claim 3, characterized in that, The reaction conditions for step (2) are: temperature 55℃, time 1.5h, stirring speed 400rpm, and system pH 4.

2.

6. The high-toughness polyester fabric according to claim 3, characterized in that, The reaction conditions for step (3) are: temperature of 60°C, stirring speed of 500 rpm, time of 1.5 h, and ultrasonic dispersion time of 20 min.

7. A method for preparing a high-toughness polyester fabric, characterized in that, The preparation method includes the following steps: S1, polyester fibers are dispersed in deionized water, followed by the addition of γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane for surface modification to obtain activated polyester fibers; S2, add borate ester-aluminum phytate-silica doped modifier, hydroquinone, nano silica and glycerol to the system and mix to obtain composite finishing solution; S3 involves immersing activated polyester fibers in a composite finishing solution for treatment, followed by drying and heat setting to obtain a high-toughness polyester fabric.

8. The method for preparing a high-toughness polyester fabric according to claim 7, characterized in that, The reaction conditions for step S1 are: temperature of 60-75℃, time of 1-2 hours, stirring speed of 250-400 rpm, and pH of the system of 4.5-6.

0.

9. The method for preparing a high-toughness polyester fabric according to claim 7, characterized in that, The reaction conditions for step S2 are a temperature of 65–80°C, a time of 1–3 hours, and a stirring speed of 300–500 rpm.

10. The method for preparing a high-toughness polyester fabric according to claim 7, characterized in that, The reaction conditions for step S3 are as follows: impregnation temperature of 70-85℃ for 0.5-2h, drying temperature of 90-110℃ for 10-30min, and heat setting temperature of 120-140℃ for 2-5min.

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