Fabrication of functional polyester fibers by sputter deposition with stainless steel

Abstract

Abstract The effects of sputtering technological parameters (sputtering power, pressure, and time) on properties of stainless steel (SS)-sputtered polyester (PET) fiber were investigated. The variations in properties such as surface morphology, tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of the prepared PET fiber sputtered under various parameters were discussed. The results indicated that the uniformity and denseness of the sputtered SS film were positively dependent upon the predetermined sputtering variables. The properties such as the breaking strength and abrasion resistance of SS-sputtered PET were remarkably enhanced as compared to the pristine one. It was found that the disorientation of macromolecules in fiber was mainly responsible for the deteriorated strength following wet and/or dry heating. In addition, a woven fabric composed of SS-sputtered fiber exhibited electromagnetic shielding capability. This research indicates that the metal deposition onto textile surfaces using magnetron sputtering is a straightforward approach for potential use in multifunctional materials.