Thermo-responsive cotton fabric prepared by enzyme-initiated “graft from” polymerization for moisture/thermal management

Abstract

Thermo-responsive textiles with moisture/thermal management characteristics have attracted extensive attention for the purpose of improving human comfort or special job requirements. In this study, a thermo-responsive cotton (TR-cotton) fabric for moisture/thermal management was prepared by horseradish peroxidase/acetylacetone (ACAC)/hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-initiated “graft from” polymerization on the fiber surface. Enzymatic graft polymerization is a new environmentally friendly method to prepare thermo-responsive textiles. Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether methacrylate (MEO2MA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA500) were selected as thermosensitive monomers for graft copolymerization. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of P(MEO2MA-co-OEGMA500) was 29 °C. TR-cotton was hydrophilic at ambient temperature below the LCST and hydrophobic at a temperature above the LCST. The air/moisture permeability of TR-cotton at a high temperature (> LCST) was better than that at a low temperature (< LCST). In a cold environment, the fabric exhibited a heat preservation effect (~ 1.5 °C warmer than that observed for unmodified cotton fabric). This study could provide an enzyme catalysis method for the development of “smart textiles”.