Solvent Assisted Dyeing of Acrylic Fibres. Part 1 – Effect of Solvents on Physical Properties of Fibres

Four different solvents, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, nitromethane and iso-amyl alcohol, have been used to study their effect on the glass transition temperature and the swelling of acrylic fibres. Propylene carbonate provided the highest plasticising effect thereby reducing the glass transition temperature. Iso-amyl alcohol showed a plasticising effect but caused shrinkage of the fibre instead of swelling. The treated fibre also showed a loss in tenacity. Possible explanations have been given