Thermal stress induction for improving the absorption of raw cotton fabric and its effect on the morphology of in situ synthesized Cu nano particles

Abstract

Chemical processes for improving cotton fabric absorption, such as scouring, are costly and not environmentally friendly. This study introduced a novel and eco-friendly method based on thermal shock for this purpose. Greige cotton fabric samples underwent different thermal shock sequences with dry ice and boiling and cooling water. The samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, methylene blue number and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller absorption isotherm were used for specific surface area measurement. A constant-rate-of-extension type tensile testing machine was also used to determine the tensile mechanical properties of the fabrics, and the effect of thermal shock on moisture regain, water absorption time, and amount of wax removal were investigated. Finally, nanoparticles of copper (Cu) were synthesized in situ on both the thermally shocked and greige fabric samples, and the absorption and particle size were compared. The thermally shocked samples showed longitudinal micro cracks, their water absorbency time decreased and their moisture regain increased (up to 14%). After treatment, no significant shrinkage or strength loss was detected. Synthesized Cu nanoparticles without the presence of cotton substrate showed a mean size larger than 825 nm, but particle sizes decreased to 297 and 69 nm in the presence of the greige and the DiH8 cotton fabric samples, respectively. The morphology of Cu nano particles altered from octahedral to spherical and was more homogeneously distributed for thermally shocked sample.