Highly Efficient Tannic Acid (TA) -Iron Ion (Fe3+) Modification of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Fibers for High-Performance Polymer Composites

The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers surfaces were modified by complexing tannic acid (TA)-iron ions (Fe3+) to form a metal skeleton structure on the fibers. In this system a large number of phenolic hydroxyl groups, epoxy groups and other active groups on the fibers surfaces can stabilize the metal skeleton structure and enhance the interfacial peeling performance between the fibers and the composite rubber matrix. The modified PET fibers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and mechanical properties. The results showed that the peeling strength between the modified fibers and the rubber matrix was increased 45%. This method has the advantages of simple operation, mild conditions and low cost, which provides a new idea for the preparation of rubber/polyester fiber composites with excellent mechanical properties.