Multifunctional Leather Surface Design by Using Carbon Nanotube-Based Composites.

Maria Stanca,Demetra Simion,Cosmin-Andrei Alexe,Andreea Matei,Carmen Gaidau,Silvana Vasilca,Silvana Vasilca,Roxana-Rodica Constantinescu,Ioana Stanculescu,Ioana Stanculescu

doi:10.3390/ma14113003

Abstract

This paper deals with original research in smart leather surface design for the development of multifunctional properties by using multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-based nanocomposites. The conductive properties were demonstrated for both sheepskin and bovine leather surfaces for 0.5% MWCNTs in finishing nanocompositions with prospects for new material design intended for flexible electronics or multifunctional leathers. The photocatalytic properties of bovine leather surface treated with 0.5% MWCNTs were shown against an olive oil stain after visible light exposure and were attributed to reactive oxygen species generation and supported by contact angle measurements in dynamic conditions. The volatile organic compounds’ decomposition and antibacterial tests confirmed the self-cleaning experimental conclusions. Ultraviolet protection factor had excellent values for leather surfaces treated with multi-walled carbon nanotube and the fastness resistance tests showed improved performance compared to control samples. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy analysis confirmed the influence of different leather surfaces on MWCNT dispersion with an effect on nanoparticle reactivity and efficiency in self-cleaning properties. Multifunctional leather surfaces were designed and demonstrated through MWCNT-based nanocomposite use under conventional finishing conditions.

Highlights

The results showed that leather surfaces treated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes have excellent ultraviolet protection factor for MWCNT_B-0.5, MWCNT_B-0.7, and MWCNT_O-0.5 compared with the control samples (Table 3)
It was found that a good dispersion of MWCNTs and a concentration of 3.24 g/L could inhibit the microbial communities of cells from activated sludge by 80% [52,56] Compared to the reported concentrations, we found that 5 g/L of MWCNTs was well dispersed on the leather surface and were antimicrobial against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Table 4)
The conductive properties were demonstrated for both sheepskin and bovine leather surfaces for 0.5% MWCNTs in finishing nanocomposition with prospect for flexible electronics or new multifunctional leather material design

Summary

Introduction

The functionalized or derivatized single-walled carbon nanotubes were prepared due to their less hydrophobic and aggregation ability in a water environment compared to the unfunctionalized materials. The photoreactivity of carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes in water and under visible light exposure was evaluated and showed evidence for the production of 1 O2 (singlet molecular oxygen), O2 − (superoxide anions) and OH (hydroxyl radicals) [7]. The generation of 1O2 with oxidative properties for organic pollutants was reported as an induced reaction by UV exposure at 240 nm of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and attributed to the existence of defects in tube walls able to generate excited triple states [8]. The oxidant properties of microparticles functionalized with multi-walled carbon nanotubes were used for azo dye pollutant reduction in wastewater with 85% removal efficiency [9]. Ultraviolet (UV), radio-frequency identification (RFID) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) blocking, wrinkle and heat resistance, optical display effect, etc. recommend carbon nanotube materials for functional product design [2]

Methods

Results

Conclusion