Study of degradation of polyester partially oriented yarns through alkaline hydrolysis process

Degradation is a major problem for all manufacturers and users of textile material. It is inevitable, since it begins as soon as any textile article is produced and continues throughout the life time of the article until it is finally rejected as useless. It may arise for a variety of reasons. Slater1 describes that the process of degradation in textile materials involves changes in the molecular structure (involving the main-chain, side chain, substituent groups or molecular bonds of any kind) that bring about changes, usually adverse in nature in any physical or chemical property of the fibres of which the textile material is made. These changes may include deterioration in physico-mechanical properties (such as strength, abrasion resistance, tactile response, colour etc.). Degradation is a pervasive change in the textile structure that is inevitable and universal and degradation cannot be avoided completely. Its progress can be declared but not halted totally. Thus its impact may be felt economically, aesthetically, or physically, depending on the type of degradation takes place. The causes of degradation may be summarised as follows: