An approach (a combination of techniques)?to studying poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers metalcoated?by the sputtering of copper is reported. The effects?of copper coatings on the surface morphology, surface?chemistry, and surface energy were investigated with?atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy-dispersive Xray?(EDX) analysis, and dynamic contact angle measurements.?Functional nanostructures formed by sputter coating?on the fiber surface were revealed with AFM. The?introduction of copper onto the fiber surface was?also detected by EDX analysis. The fibers functionalized?by the sputter coating resulted in changes in the surface?energy measured with the advancing and receding contact?angles. Both the advancing and receding contact angles?were reduced after sputter coating by copper, but the
contact angle hysteresis was significantly increased as?the coating was applied. The surface resistivity measurements
revealed that sputter coating by copper considerably?improved the surface conductivity of the PET?fibers
Qufu Wei,Dan Tao,Zhaofang Du,Yibing Cai,Ning Wu,Lei Chen
Journal of Applied Polymer Science