Role of ethanol concentration on drawing and infusion behavior of poly(ethylene terephthalate) filaments upon cold drawing

•Drawing of PET filament in diluted ethanol solutions at room temperature.•With increasing ethanol concentration number of necks on filament increased.•Amount of ethanol infused in filament increased with ethanol concentration.•Crystallization of filament was enhanced with ethanol concentration.•High ethanol concentration increased dye molecules infusion in filament.

This paper describes the drawing and concomitant infusion behavior in low oriented PET filament drawn at room temperature in ethanol/water solution of various ethanol concentrations. Increasing concentration of ethanol greatly increased the number of necks on filament, and reduced the yield and drawing stresses. With increasing concentration of ethanol the infusion of ethanol into filament was increased, and a well-developed crystalline structure was formed. Shrinkage reduction of filament with increasing ethanol concentration was also investigated. Infusion of dye molecules in filament was also increased with raising of ethanol concentration. Color spectrum study confirmed that dye molecules infused only in drawn parts of filament and undrawn parts showed 100% transmittance.

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