1
|
Tonis E, Frousiou E, Heliopoulos NS, Kagkoura A, Stangel C, Siamidis D, Galeou A, Prombona A, Stamatakis K, Boukos N, Tagmatarchis N, Vougioukalakis GC. VAR Fabric Modification: Inducing Antibacterial Properties, Altering Wettability/Water Repellence, and Understanding Reactivity at the Molecular Level. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:44708-44716. [PMID: 38046315 PMCID: PMC10688117 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The present work focuses on the surface coating of VAR technical fibers, consisting of 64% viscose (cellulose), 24% Kevlar, 10% other types of polyamides, and 2% antistatic polymers. Kevlar is an aramid material exhibiting excellent mechanical properties, while cellulose is a natural linear polymer composed of repeating β-d-glucose units, having several applications in the materials industry. Herein, we synthesized novel, tailor-designed organic molecules possessing functional groups able to anchor on VAR fabrics and cellulose materials, thus altering their properties on demand. To this end, we utilized methyl-α-d-glucopyranose as a model compound, both to optimize the reaction conditions, before applying them to the material and to understand the chemical behavior of the material at the molecular level. The efficient coating of the VAR fabric with the tailor-made compounds was then implemented. Thorough characterization studies using Raman and IR spectroscopies as well as SEM imaging and thermogravimetric analysis were also carried out. The wettability and water repellency and antibacterial properties of the modified VAR fabrics were also investigated in detail. To the best of our knowledge, such an approach has not been previously explored, among other factors regarding the understanding of the anchoring mechanism at the molecular level. The proposed modification protocol holds the potential to improve the properties of various cellulose-based materials beyond VAR fabrics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Efstathios Tonis
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 15771, Greece
| | - Efrosyni Frousiou
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 15771, Greece
| | - Nikolaos S Heliopoulos
- 700 Military Factory, Supreme Military Support Command, 50 Anapafseos, Piraeus 18648, Greece
| | - Antonia Kagkoura
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, Athens 11635, Greece
| | - Christina Stangel
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, Athens 11635, Greece
| | | | - Angeliki Galeou
- Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Patriarchou Grigoriou E' & Neapoleos Str., Agia Paraskevi,Athens, Attica 15341, Greece
| | - Anastasia Prombona
- Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Patriarchou Grigoriou E' & Neapoleos Str., Agia Paraskevi,Athens, Attica 15341, Greece
| | - Kostas Stamatakis
- Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Patriarchou Grigoriou E' & Neapoleos Str., Agia Paraskevi,Athens, Attica 15341, Greece
| | - Nikos Boukos
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Patriarchou Grigoriou E' & Neapoleos Str., Agia Paraskevi,Athens, Attica 15341, Greece
| | - Nikos Tagmatarchis
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, Athens 11635, Greece
| | - Georgios C Vougioukalakis
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 15771, Greece
| |
Collapse
|