Surface Modification of Polyester/Viscose Fabric with Silica Hydrosol and Amino-Functionalized Polydimethylsiloxane for the Preparation of a Fluorine-Free Superhydrophobic and Breathable Textile

Development of photoluminescent viscose fibers integrated with polymer containing lanthanide-doped phosphor

Smart clothing refers to textiles that can sense an external stimulus by changing their physical properties such as colorimetric and fluorescent fabrics. The pad-dry-curing coloration approach was used to apply a luminous and hydrophobic composite coating onto cellulose-based materials. This novel method includes incorporating phosphor nanoparticles made from lanthanide-doped strontium aluminum oxide (LSAO) into room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber (RTV). The LSAO nano-sized particles (3-8 nm) must be mixed evenly throughout RTV without aggregation to allow for the formation of a colorless layer onto viscose surface. Pad-dry-curing the film onto viscose cloth worked well at room temperature. The contact angles of the luminous fibers enhanced from 138.6° to 158.2° as the LSAO ratio increased. The antimicrobial and ultraviolet (UV) protection of the LSAO-finished viscose were investigated. The transparent fluorescent film on viscose surface was excited at 367 nm to display an emission peak at 518 nm. According to CIE Lab coordinates and luminescence analyses, the fluorescent viscose fibers showed various colors, including white under visible light, intense green beneath UV device, and greenish-yellow under darkness. The comfort properties of the LSAO-finished viscose were assessed by measuring their bend length and permeability to air. Transmission electron microscopic analysis of LSAO nanoparticles was explored. Energy dispersive x-ray, x-ray fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy were utilized to describe the spectroscopic outcomes of the treated textiles. The colorfastness of the LSAO-finished viscose fabrics was examined. The coated fabrics exhibited a non-fatigable reversible luminous photochromism in response to UV illumination. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Multifunctional LSAO@RTV nanocomposite was pad-dry-cured onto viscose textile. Photochromism to green under UV light and greenish-yellow in the dark was detected. Efficient antimicrobial, UV protective, and superhydrophobic activity were observed. The antimicrobial properties were maintained for 24 washing cycles. Pad-dry-cured viscose showed good comfortability and photostability.

Multi-functionalization of cotton fabrics with excellent flame retardant, antibacterial and superhydrophobic properties

Cotton fabric is widely used in many fields for its excellent comfortability, breathability and hygroscopicity. However, the development of multifunctional cotton fabrics to meet the requirements of different scenarios is a top priority. In this study, multifunctional coating was constructed through facile layer-by-layer assembly phytic acid and chitosan, and spraying divalent copper ion and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on cotton fabrics, anticipating to endow them with flame retardancy, antibacterial and superhydrophobic properties simultaneously. The treated cotton fabric achieved a limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of 32 %, with the char length reducing to 10.7 cm revealing excellent flame retardancy. The water contact angle of multifunctional treated cotton fabric was above 150°, demonstrating it had superhydrophobicity. The antibacterial rates of multifunctional cotton fabrics against E. coli and S. aureus reached to higher than 99 %, indicating that the excellent antibacterial properties. Combined with the thermal stability of cotton fabrics and their char residues analysis, these results demonstrated that the multifunctional coating could act through intumescent flame retardant mechanism to flame retardant cotton fabrics. This research provides a facile way to prepare multifunctional cotton fabrics to broaden the application prospect.

Integrating multifunctional highly efficient flame-retardant coatings with superhydrophobicity, antibacterial property on cotton fabric

There has been a growing interest in bio-based flame-retardant coating layer with good antibacterial activity for cotton fabric owing to the arising environmental pollution and viral and bacterial infectious risks. In this study, multifunctional flame-retardant coatings with superhydrophobicity and antibacterial property were integrated on cotton fabric through two-step method. The first layer of phosphorylated chitosan (PCS) biobased coating (C4) endowed the fabric highly efficient flame retardancy and antibacterial activity, and the second layer of modified poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate phosphate ester) (PHEMAP) coating by perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (P/F) provided the fabric excellent superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning ability. The C4-P/F fabric exhibited a shorter damage length of only 6.2 cm and achieved a higher char yield of 22.3 % than the C4 fabric in the vertical combustion test, and the limited oxygen index of the C4-P/F fabric increased to 32.5 %. The water contact angle (WCA) of the C4-P/F fabric reached above 150 o. Moreover, the C4-P/F fabric exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The highly efficient flame-retardant, superhydrophobic, antibacterial fabric is promising in home and public decoration, fire protection fields.

Recent Advances in Superhydrophobic and Antibacterial Cellulose-Based Fibers and Fabrics: Bio-inspiration, Strategies, and Applications

Cellulose-based fabrics are ubiquitous in our daily lives. They are the preferred choice for bedding materials, active sportswear, and next-to-skin apparels. However, the hydrophilic and polysaccharide characteristics of cellulose materials make them vulnerable to bacterial attack and pathogen infection. The design of antibacterial cellulose fabrics has been a long-term and on-going effort. Fabrication strategies based on the construction of surface micro-/nanostructure, chemical modification, and the application of antibacterial agents have been extensively investigated by many research groups worldwide. This review systematically discusses recent research on super-hydrophobic and antibacterial cellulose fabrics, focusing on morphology construction and surface modification. First, natural surfaces showing liquid-repellent and antibacterial properties are introduced and the mechanisms behind are explained. Then, the strategies for fabricating super-hydrophobic cellulose fabrics are summarized, and the contribution of the liquid-repellent function to reducing the adhesion of live bacteria and removing dead bacteria is elucidated. Representative studies on cellulose fabrics functionalized with super-hydrophobic and antibacterial properties are discussed in detail, and their potential applications are also introduced. Finally, the challenges in achieving super-hydrophobic antibacterial cellulose fabrics are discussed, and the future research direction in this area is proposed.

Graphical Abstract

The figure summarizes the natural surfaces and the main fabrication strategies of superhydrophobic antibacterial cellulose fabrics and their potential applications.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42765-023-00297-1.

Development of Cotton Fabrics via EVA/SiO2/Al2O3 Nanocomposite Prepared by γ-Irradiation for Waterproof and Fire Retardant Applications

Development of cotton fabric (CF) properties using nanocomposites via coating method was of considerable interest for wide applications. This article aims at developing CF properties by coating treatment using ethylene–vinyl-acetate (EVA), silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles and γ-irradiation widely used in waterproof and flame retardant applications. EVA-based nanocomposites, EVA/SiO2, EVA/Al2O3, and EVA/SiO2/Al2O3, were synthesized by γ-irradiation and the highest gel content of 81.2–95.3% was achieved at 30 kGy. The physicochemical properties of EVA-based nanocomposites were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, DSC and SEM techniques. Usage of irradiated EVA and EVA-based nanocomposites for treatment of CF by coating technique was successfully achieved. This technique provides a simple and versatile method leading to excellent uniform and smooth surface morphology without aggregation. The weight gain, mechanical properties, thermal properties, water vapor permeability and flame-retardant properties of the modified CF were evaluated. Moreover, compared with control CF, the resistivity of water absorptivity and hydrophobic property and the thermal stability were gained. The flame retardant properties of CF samples were performed using limited oxygen index (LOI) and vertical burning flame tests. LOI percentages of CF/EVA/SiO2, CF/EVA/Al2O3 and CF/EVA/SiO2/Al2O3 increased to 25.3, 27.5, and 29.3%, respectively. Untreated CF ignited and burned rapidly after 5 s. Meanwhile, the treated CF hold flame resistance properties and the burning time prolonged to 25 s. The results of the treated CF providing revealed hydrophobic and protective capability of the fabrics from being destroyed by burning, and support their further use in waterproof and flame retardant applications of fabrics.