A study on melt spinning of polyethylene terephthalate filament yarns containing various concentrations of synthesized CuO nanoparticles

Abstract In this research the CuO nanoparticles were synthesized with four different methods then used to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers with antibacterial, antifungal, and photocatalytic properties during the melt spinning process. Nanoparticles were synthesized in different ways using copper acetate salt (Cu(CH 3 COO) 2 ) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles was confirmed by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM images), EDX patterns, TGA, FTIR, X‐ray diffraction pattern XRD, and UV‐vis absorption spectrum. The results showed that synthesized nanoparticles exhibited strong antibacterial activity against gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria. Finally, after examining the fibers with different percentages of nanoparticles), fibers containing 1% of nanoparticles were produced using a 20% nanocopper oxide masterbatch as the optimal sample. The presence of nanoparticles in the fiber structure was confirmed by FE‐SEM images, EDX, XRD, and FTIR analysis. Furthermore, the tensile properties, thermal behavior, and photocatalytic properties of the fibers were investigated. Evaluation of the antibacterial and antifungal activity of the produced fibers against gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans fungus showed about 90% death of bacteria and fungi.