Improving the properties of the polyester fabrics by grafting with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl acrylate

3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl acrylate obtained by the esterification of epichlorohydrin with acrylic acid in the presence of zirconium silicate as a catalyst was used for grafting of the polyester fabric in order to improve some of its properties. The grafting was performed in the presence of (NH4)2S2O8 as a polymerization initiator. The grafted samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses. The effect of grafting on the comfort indices (hygroscopicity and vapor permeability) and the tinctorial properties (color intensity and dyeing fastness) were analyzed. Further addition of AgNO3 in the final reaction mixture used for grafting of polyester fabric confers antibacterial effect to the treated samples. The properties of the polyester fabric were highly improved by grafting with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl acrylate.