In this study, functionalization of PET fabrics with amino groups was achieved by aminolysis. Aminolysis routes were explored using different amine‐based materials including ethylenediamine (EDA), triaminotriethylamine (TAEA) and (3‐aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS), (3‐trimethoxy‐silylpropyl)diethylentriamine (TRIAMO) in addition to amino‐functionalized silica nanoparticles as amino‐silane based reagents. The samples were deeply characterized by SEM, AFM, and XPS. Abrasion and tensile tests were carried out to evaluate the mechanical properties of the modified fabrics. Results showed that aminolysis conducted with EDA and TAEA as amino based reagents lower the performances of PET, while dense coatings can be deposited on the fibres by amino silane‐based reagents that act as protective layers. APTMS modified PET presented improved abrasion resistance compared to the native PET. The antibacterial activity of the PET surfaces functionalized with the different amino groups was also evaluated using the gram‐negative bacterium A. fischeri antibacterial assay. The results showed improved antibacterial performances of the native textile treated with APTMS and TAEA based reagents.

We address a strategy to graft hydrogels onto polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics using different acrylate-based monomers. The hydrogel-modified fabrics were prepared by a two-step modification. To this end, double functional groups were firstly introduced onto the PET surface via an aminolysis reaction involving allylamine. The final grafted polymer networks were then obtained after UV-induced radical photopolymerization by varying acrylate monomer types in the presence of a cross-linker. After characterization, the resulting hydrogels showed different morphologies and abrasion resistance performances depending on their chemical nature. UV-photopolymerization is a fast and low-cost method to achieve technical fabrics with specific desired properties.

Here, we synthesize zwitterionic polymer brushes on polyester fabrics by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) after a prefunctionalization step involving an aminolysis reaction with ethylenediamine. Aminolysis is an easy method to achieve homogeneous distributions of functional groups on polyester fibers (PET) fabrics. Varying the polymerization time and the prefunctionalization conditions of the reaction, it is possible to tune the amount of water retained over the surface and study its effect on protein adhesion. This study revealed that the polymerization time plays a major role in preventing protein adhesion on the PET surface.

We investigate the shrinkage of a surface-grafted water-swollen hydrogel under shear flows of oils by laser scanning confocal microscopy.