Structure–Property Evolution of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Fibers in Industrialized Process under Complex Coupling of Stress and Temperature Field

The structure–property evolution of commercial poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers obtained from the different drawing and heat-setting stages in industrial processing was systematically investigated. Upon combination of thermal analysis (DSC and DMA) with crystallization and orientation (WAXD and SAXS), the variation of crystallization and microstructures mainly containing lamellar and microfibrillar crystals following the processes were discussed in connection with properties. Results indicate the significant tenacity increase of fiber in the drawing process is mainly attributed to the orientation development of the interlamellar amorphous region, the interfibrillar extension of amorphous molecular chains, and its entanglement with the lamellae. Accordingly, a decline of shrinkage can be seen as a fact of the coiling of amorphous molecular chains, the formation of rigid amorphous fraction, and the increase of crystallinity. Thus, a new four-phase model has been proposed to clarify the structure–property relationships of the commercial PET industrial fibers.