Journal of Textile Research ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (04): 1-8.doi: 10.13475/j.fzxb.20250900701

• Fiber Materials •     Next Articles

Preparation and properties of anti-pilling polyester fibers

GUO Chengzhi1,2, LI Zhong3, LIU Yongsheng3, QIAO Xiaolan1,2(), ZHU Meifang1,2   

  1. 1 State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
    2 College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
    3 Jiangsu Xinzhanjiang Fiber Technology Co., Ltd., Changzhou, Jiangsu 213127, China
  • Received:2025-09-02 Revised:2026-02-24 Online:2026-04-15 Published:2026-06-24
  • Contact: QIAO Xiaolan E-mail:xlqiao@dhu.edu.cn

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Abstract:

Objective To maintain the appearance quality during service, this work aims to improve the pilling resistance of polyester (PET) fibers and further expand the application potential of PET fibers while promoting the textile industry toward a green, low-carbon, and sustainable development direction.

Method Silicone powder and PET were melt-blended and extruded using a twin-screw extruder to prepare silicone-modified PET masterbatch. The modified PET fibers with varying silicone content were then prepared using a melt-spinning system. The rheology and melt flow rate of the modified and unmodified PET masterbatch, as well as the microstructure, chemical structure, breaking strength, pilling resistance, static and dynamic friction coefficients of the fiber samples, were thoroughly measured and discussed.

Results The results showed that silicone powder was substantially uniformly distributed in the PET masterbatch without significant aggregation. Due to the excellent lubricating properties of the silicone powder and its uniform distribution in the PET matrix, the introduction of silicone powder improved the rheology and melt flow rate of the PET masterbatch, enhancing its processability. The addition of silicone powder did not affect the microstructure and chemical structure of the final modified PET fibers. Although the mechanical properties of the modified PET fibers slightly decreased when increasing of silicone powder content, the breaking strength of the 1.00% silicone powder-modified PET fibers was still 2.37 cN/dtex, which was less than one-fifth lower than that of pure PET fibers. With the increase of silicone powder content, the pilling resistance of modified PET fabrics showed a trend of increasing first, then decreasing, and further increasing. This was due to the synergistic effect of the lubricating function of the silicone powder and the mechanical properties of the modified PET fibers. When the silicone powder content was very low (0.25%), the mechanical properties of the modified PET fibers were nearly unchanged compared to pure PET. The small amount of silicone powder provided lubricating effects, making the modified PET fibers more resistant to breakage and pilling during the friction test. As a result, the pilling resistance reached grade 3-4, an improvement of 1 grade compared to pure PET, which had grade 2-3. When the silicone powder content increased to 0.50% and 0.75%, the fiber's mechanical properties slightly declined, resulting in a pilling resistance grade of 3 just 0-1 grade higher than pure PET. However, when the silicone powder content reached 1.00%, the lubricating function of the silicone powder became dominant, improving the lubrication during fiber friction. The fibers, which were subjected to force during testing, were less likely to entangle and break. As a result, the pilling resistance of the modified PET fabric increased significantly, reaching grade 4, which was 1-2 grades higher than pure PET. This is consistent with the lower friction coefficient of modified PET fibers. During the pilling test, the pure PET fabric showed noticeable pilling after 500 friction cycles, while the 1.00% silicone powder-modified PET fabric showed no significant pilling even after 7 000 cycles, only slight fuzzing.

Conclusion By modifying the PET masterbatch by adding silicone powder, the processability of the PET masterbatch and the pilling resistance of PET fabrics were significantly enhanced, achieving a pilling resistance grade of 4. This excellent performance can improve the appearance quality of traditional PET fabrics during long-term use, further potentially expanding their application scenarios. At the same time, this modification method aligns with current PET fiber production processes. The silicone powder used is cost-effective, light-colored, and facilitates subsequent dyeing, finishing, and other processing techniques, making it highly suitable for industrial applications. This approach provides important guidance for the development of polymer fibers with wear and pilling resistance.

Key words: silicone powder, melt blending, masterbatch, modified PET fiber, anti-pilling and anti-fuzzing performance

CLC Number: 

  • TS156

Fig.1

Cross-sectional SEM image(a) and silicon elemental energy spectra(b) of PET masterbatch modified with a silicone powder mass fraction of 5%"

Fig.2

SEM images of PET fibers and PET fibers modified with different contents of silicone powder. (a) PET fiber; (b) 0.25% silicone powder/PET fiber; (c) 0.50% silicone powder/PET fiber; (d) 0.75% silicone powder/PET fiber; (e) 1.00% silicone powder/PET fiber"

Fig.3

EDS image(a) and corresponding C(b), O(c), and Si(d) elemental energy spectra of modified PET fibers with a silicone powder mass fraction of 1.00%"

Fig.4

Rheological curves of PET masterbatches modified with different silicone powder contents"

Fig.5

XPS survey spectra and high-resolution C1s spectra of silicone powder, PET pellet, and modified PET masterbatch with a silicone powder mass fraction of 5%. (a) XPS survey spectra; (b) C1s spectrum of silicone powder; (c) C1s spectrum of PET pellet; (d) C1s spectrum of 5% silicone powder/PET masterbatch"

Fig.6

Infrared spectra of pure PET and modified PET fibers with a silicone powder mass fraction of 1.00%"

Fig.7

Breaking strength of PET fibers modified with different silicone powder contents"

Tab.1

Anti-pilling and fiber friction coefficient for PET fabrics modified with different contents of silicone powder"

硅酮粉质量
分数/%		 起毛起球
等级		 静摩擦因数 动摩擦因数
0 2~3 0.15±0.02 0.14±0.01
0.25 3~4 0.11±0.02 0.10±0.02
0.50 3 0.10±0.01 0.10±0.01
0.75 3 0.10±0.01 0.09±0.01
1.00 4 0.09±0.01 0.08±0.01

Fig.8

Friction coefficient test curves of PET and modified PET fibers with a silicone powder mass fraction of 1.00%"

Fig.9

Optical images of PET fabric(a) and modified PET fabric(b) with a silicone powder mass fraction of 1.00% after 500, 2 000, and 7 000 rubbing cycles"

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