Abstract
In this study, self-cleaning polyester (PET) fabrics were prepared using TiOF2 and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane(HDS) treatment. TiOF2 was synthesized via direct fluorination of a precursor TiO2 at various reaction temperatures. The prepared PET fabrics had superior photocatalytic self-cleaning properties compared with anatase TiO2/HDS-treated PET fabrics under UV and sunlight with 98% decomposition of methylene blue. TiOF2/HDS-treated PET fabrics also had superior superhydrophobic self-cleaning properties compared with anatase TiO2/HDS-treated PET fabrics with a 161° water contact angle and 6° roll-off angle. After the self-cleaning tests of the non-dyed TiOF2/HDS-treated PET fabrics, we prepared dyed TiOF2/HDS-treated PET fabrics to test practical aspects of the treatment method. These PET fabrics were barely stained by tomato ketchup; even when stained, they could be self-cleaned within 4 h. These results suggest that practical self-cleaning PET fabrics with superhydrophobicity and photocatalytic degradation could be prepared using TiOF2/HDS-treatment.
Highlights
For the first time, based on the best results obtained for the prepared self-cleaning white PET fabrics, a dyed PET fabric was treated with the photocatalyst and HDS, and its practical self-cleaning properties toward tomato ketchup were tested
These fabrics showed excellent superhydrophobicity, i.e., sufficient to exhibit actual washing-off self-cleaning properties, due to the synergistic effect of the photocatalyst and HDS in optimizing the surface roughness. These results suggest that self-cleaning PET fabrics with superhydrophobicity and photocatalytic degradation could be prepared using TiOF2 /HDS treatment
These results suggest that practical self-cleaning PET fabrics with superhydrophobicity and photocatalytic degradation could be prepared using the TiOF2 /HDS treatment
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Self-cleaning fabrics with superhydrophobicity and photocatalytic degradation have been reported [3,4,31–35] These were prepared via the treatment of photocatalysts followed by the treatment of organic silanes. This approach produced excellent stain resistant surfaces owing to their superhydrophobicity and photocatalytic removal of stains due to the surface photocatalyst being sensitized by visible light. Their application in the textile industry seems limited because the functional properties of fabrics are given by the textile finishing process, which uses fabrics dyed with a particular color. For the first time, based on the best results obtained for the prepared self-cleaning white PET fabrics, a dyed PET fabric was treated with the photocatalyst and HDS, and its practical self-cleaning properties toward tomato ketchup were tested
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