Due to the sensitivity caused by environmental issues and the necessity of using solvents and green catalysts in recent decades, In this study for the first time, ionic liquids which known as green solvents and catalysts, were applied for surface modification of polyester fabrics as a water replacement medium environment to improve the wetting properties of this polymer. While application of the ionic liquids for recycling polyester alone or as a catalysis for the reaction of its glycolysis has already known, in this research the conventional method of polyester recycling, glycolysis, was evaluated for the surface modification of polyester substrate. The effects of treatment time and a variety of catalysis on polyester glycolysis were investigated. Moreover, simultaneous dyeing surface modification via the ion liquid with measuring K/S and color difference was studied. To survey structural changes occurred on the samples, the absorption of methylene blue dye by samples, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy images were used. As well as, bending and strength properties of the samples were examined. Test results show, wetting properties of samples in surface modification by ionic liquid and using glycolysis method with ionic liquid catalyst, has been improved successfully. Carboxylic acid and hydroxyl functional groups creation on the modified samples, by increasing the absorption of methylene blue dye and infrared spectra of the samples is confirmed. SEM images show the surfaces of modified samples have been changed by corrosion due to polymer chains failure, thereby makes increasing the functional groups on the surface and improving wicking properties in samples. In the surface modification and dyeing simultaneously into 100 0 C, the results of color difference of samples show that color absorption of dyed sample in ionic liquid, compared with color absorption of dyed sample into water without carrier, has been increased and the color absorption of dyed sample in ionic liquid is very close to color absorption of dyed sample into water with carrier. Improving of flexural properties of samples without Severe strength loss of them and also improvement of the wetting properties of modified samples, represents the effective surface modification of polyester fabrics using ionic liquid and glycolysis reaction with ionic liquid catalyst.
