Advanced Materials Research Vol. 441

Abstract: Silver (Ag) deposition was performed on a polyaniline-precoated surface for textile metallization. Polyaniline was utilized as an intermediate layer on fabrics to facilitate Ag formation. Inductivily coupled plasma atomic emission spectgrometry (ICP-AES) was used to monitor the content of metallic elements on Ag-laden polyaniline layers prepared under different conditions of polyaniline fomation. The surface modification of the samples before and after Ag plating was characterized by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Abstract: PANI/PET composite fabric was synthesized at the surface of polyester fabric by in-situ polymerization method. The optimum preparation process was determined by unvaried analyses and orthogonal experiment. Meanwhile the performance of PANI/PET composite conductive fabric was characterized. The results showed that the optimum process of PANI/PET composite conductive fabric was as follows: PANI monomer concentration was 0.1mol/L, n [(NH₄)₂S₂O₈]:n (An) was 1:1, HCl concentration was 0.5 mol/L, the reaction time was 2 h and the reaction temperature was at 20°C. Under this condition, the half-life of the PANI/PET composite fabric was 0.21 s. At the same time, the breaking tenacity of PANI/PET composite fabric was better than that of polyester fabric

Abstract: The minimal inhibitory concentration of the natural antibacterial components extracted from euphorbia humifusa willd (EHW) was investigated. The optimized fixation process and the antimicrobial activity of the treated silk fabrics were also studied. The results of the experiments indicated that the optimized fixation process parameters were extract concentration 60%, pH 4, 90°C and 60 minutes and the silk fabric had excellent antibacterial property. After 30 washing cycles the inhibitory rate of the silk fabric decreased from 100% to 61.8% and from, 89.31% to 67.86% against St. aureus and E. coli, respectively. A further treatment with rare earth improved the antibacterial durability of the silk fabric.

Abstract: A series of modified nanoTiO₂ photocatalysts, nanoPC, was applied to cotton fabrics through a pad-dry-cure process. The effect of nanoPC dosage, the ratio of nanoPC to crosslinking agent, and curing conditions on the degradation of formaldehyde were discussed. The optimal finishing process of cotton fabric with nanoPC was determined as follows: 1%~1.5% photocatalyst, curing at 130°C for 5 minutes. Cotton fabric treated with the above process demonstrated over 90% degradation of formaldehyde, good washing fastness and soft handle, as well as little loss in breaking strength, tearing strength and polymerization degree.

Abstract: The wash and wear finish of bast fabric was reported in this paper. The influence of various factors on wash and wear finish effect was studied by method of orthogonal experimentr. The result indicated that the proper range of concentration of finish was 80-100 g/L with catalyst MgCl₂ of 8% relative to dose of finishing agent at curing temperature of 160 °C for 3 mins. The wrinkle recovery angle and breaking elongation percentage could be enhanced by pretreatment with NaOH liquor of 20-25 g/L. The performance of the wash and wear finish could be improved by finish with amino organosilicon. In the process of low formaldehyde wash and wear finish, the concentration of finish was a key parameter, dose of catalyst MgCl₂ and curing temperature were main parameters.

Abstract: In this work, silk was reacted with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide to obtain silk macroinitiator for activators regenerated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP). Silk macroinitiator was grafted with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) via ARGET ATRP method to produce grafted silk in water aqueous. FT-IR characterization of the modified silk substrate showed that HEMA had been grafted onto the silk surface. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photos of the grafted silks showed significant differences from the untreated silk. X-ray diffraction curves demonstrated that the crystalline structure of silk remained unchanged regardless of the HEMA grafting. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves indicated that the thermal stability of the grafted silk was improved. The whiteness, strength and moisture regain of the grafted silk decreased slightly, but the wrinkle recovery angle of the grafted silk increased distinctly compared with the control sample.

Abstract: By researching on the self-cleaning characteristic of nanometer material, and the dispersion and stability of nanometer particle, a kind of environmentally friendly nanometer finishing agent was exploited and developed. Application results of this nanometer self-cleaning agent on textile fabrics showed that this finishing agent had self-cleaning effect to remove capsicum oil. Generally speaking, over 10% dosage of nanometer material finishing agent would allow the self-cleaning effect completely in 24 hours. Meanwhile, after being finished with this self-cleaning agent, the fabric wearabilities were not changed.

Abstract: Silk is blended with wool to make high-class apparel, contributing luster and strength. For the dyeing of silk/wool blends, the solid shades are usually required. However, the apparent color strength of dyed wool is generally higher than that of silk, which must be improved through the selection of dyes employed as well as the control of pH and dyeing temperature. In this paper, a novel approach of syntan application to improving the solid effect of silk/wool blends dyed with acid dyes was investigated. The influence of syntan on the distribution of different acid dyes in silk and wool as well as the apparent color strength of two fibers was determined. The mechanism for syntan to improve the solid effect was discussed according to the behaviors of syntan adsorption on silk and wool as well as fiber structures.

Abstract: The combustion properties, flame retardant property, thermal degradation and component of pyrolysis products of calcium alginate fibers were investigated in this paper. The limiting oxygen index value of calcium alginate fibers was 34.4 showing no combustion in the air. The fiber extinguishes instantly when it is moved away from the fire. During the combustion process, the heat release rates (HRR), effective heat combustion (EHC) and total heat release (THR) of calcium alginate fibers were lower than those of cotton fibers, but higher than those of sodium alginate. The carbon dioxide yield rate of calcium alginate fibers was higher than that of cotton fibers but lower than that of sodium alginate. Calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide, which are beneficial to hamper fibers combustion and diffusion of heat and oxygen, were formed during thermal degradation of calcium alginate fibers. There were 15 kinds of pyrolysis products in gas phase of calcium alginate fibers at 350°C and 45 kinds at 700 °C, while there were 26 kinds of pyrolysis products of sodium alginate at 350°C and 26 kinds at 700°C. Based on a series of study, the flame retardant mechanism of calcium alginate fibers was analyzed.

Abstract: ZnO/SiO₂ core/shell particles were fabricated and coated on poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) textiles, followed by hydrophobization with hexadecyltrimethoxysilane, to achieve superdrophobic surfaces with UV-shielding property. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to reveal the fabrication of ZnO/SiO₂ core/shell particles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted to investigate the surface morphologies of the textile and the coating of the fibers. UV-Vis spectrophotometry and contact angle measurement indicated that the incorporation of ZnO onto fibers imparted UV-blocking property to the textile surface, while the coating of SiO₂ shell on ZnO made the superhydrophobicity of the as-treated PET textile surface UV-durable.