Modification of wool fabric treated with tetrabutyl titanate by hydrothermal method

Abstract

Nanometer-sized TiO2 particles prepared by hydrothermal precipitation method were first immobilized on the surface of wool fiber using tetrabutyl titanate, and then dyed with C.I. Reactive Blue 69. Scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analyses were used to characterize the morphology, crystalline phase, chemical structure, and thermal stability of TiO2-loaded fiber. The properties of diffuse reflectance spectrum, whiteness, dye exhaustion rate, fixation rate, K/S value, and color fastness for wool fabrics before and after treatment were also measured. The investigation indicated that when wool fabric was treated with tetrabutyl titanate aqueous solution at 120°C for 5 h, pure anatase TiO2 particles aggregated by nanocrystalline grains of 10 nm or so were synthesized, and were grafted onto fiber surface by chemical reaction. When compared with the untreated wool fabric, the onset decomposition temperature of the TiO2-loaded fabric increased. The capability of TiO2-loaded fabric against ultraviolet radiation was enhanced. The fabric whiteness, exhaustion rate, fixation rate, and K/S value decreased to some extent because of the existence of the TiO2 particles. The color fastnesses to dry and wet rubbing had no change. The K/S value of TiO2-loaded fabric increased after being brushed. The color fastness to artificial light was also improved.