One of the most fundamental disadvantages of polypropylene is its lack of dyeability. It is the dream of all the polymer and textile chemists for so many decades to develop dyeable polypropylene. So far, no industrial applicable technology has been developed in this area. This proposed investigation on dyeability of nanocomposite polypropylene will certainly enrich the knowledge base in the coloration of polypropylene and other manufactured fibers. The success of the project will substantially improve the U.S. textile industry's competitiveness in the market of synthetic materials.
Dyeable polypropylene is a big challenge to all the polymer and textile chemists for many decades.
Currently available technology for the manufacturing of dyeable polypropylene relies on copolymerization or polyblending technologies. Using copolymerization or polyblend approaches currently available to provide dyeability increases the cost of the fiber considerably due to the cost increase of the process and materials. Such a cost increase certainly affects the price advantage of polypropylene over nylon and polyester. Using nano technology, such as nanoclay technology does not increase the price of polypropylene notably. In addition, it also improves the mechanical properties of the fiber, such as modulus and tensile strength.