Innovative bifunctional heat storage nanocapsules containing polymerizable surfactant for antimicrobial thermoregulating clothes

Abstract

Bifunctional poly(methyl methacrylate)/Rubitherms®27 (PMMA/RT27) nanocapsules were fabricated by miniemulsion polymerization using poly(2-methacryloyloxy dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride-4-allyloxy-2-hydroxy benzophenone)-block-polymethyl methacrylate-iodide (P(QAC12-BP)-b-PMMA-I) as a polymerizable surfactant. Approximately 50-nm spherical core-shell nanocapsules were formed with a highly positive surface charge (≥ +70 mV) derived from the quaternary ammonium (QA) groups in QAC12 units. The QA groups distributed on the nanocapsules’ surfaces effectively presented cationic characteristics and antimicrobial performance. High RT27 loading and encapsulation efficiency PMMA nanocapsules were produced using an MMA: RT27 ratio of 50: 50 with high latent heats of the encapsulated RT27, close to those of the pristine ones. Because of the existence of the BP unit in the polymerizable surfactant located on nanocapsules’ surfaces, the obtained nanocapsules were strongly coated on cotton fabrics by irradiation with UV light, giving them greater washing durability than using an external binder. The coated fabrics exhibited effective antimicrobial performance against S. epidermidis and C. glutamigum. Therefore, the fabricated PMMA/RT27 nanocapsules presenting thermoregulating and antimicrobial properties are well suited for application on textiles.