Fabrication Properties Research Articles

Thermo-Regulated Cotton: Enhanced Insulation through PVA Nanofiber-Coated PCM Microcapsules

The innovative integration of phase change materials (PCMs) into textiles through microencapsulation presents a transformative approach to developing thermally regulated fabrics. This study explores the synthesis and characterization of microcapsules containing a coconut oil core and an ethylcellulose shell, and their application on cotton fabrics coated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers. The dual-layer system involving microcapsules and nanofibers is designed to enhance the thermal insulation properties of textiles by regulating heat through the absorption and release of thermal energy. The microencapsulation of PCMs allows for the effective incorporation of these materials into textiles without altering the fabric’s inherent properties. In this study, the coconut oil serves as the PCM, known for its suitable phase change temperature range, while ethylcellulose provides a robust shell, enhancing the microcapsules’ structural integrity. The application of a PVA nanofibers layer not only strengthens the thermal regulation properties but also protects the microcapsules from release while the fabric is manipulated, thereby prolonging the functional life of the fabric. Comprehensive testing, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confirms the successful application and durability of the microcapsules on the textiles. Thermal imaging studies demonstrate the fabric’s enhanced capability to maintain a consistent temperature, highlighting the potential of this technology in applications ranging from smart clothing to energy-efficient building materials or automotive isolation. The integration of PCMs in textiles via microencapsulation and nanofiber technology marks a significant advancement in textile engineering, offering new opportunities for the development of smart and sustainable materials. The study demonstrates the promising potential of integrating PCMs into textiles using microencapsulation and nanofiber technologies. Despite the initially modest insulation improvements, the methodology provides a robust foundation for further research and development.

Impact of polycarboxylic acid treatments on physico-mechanical properties of cotton fabric

Impact of polycarboxylic acid treatments on physico-mechanical properties of cotton fabric

Effect of Hot-Pressing Process on Mechanical Properties of UHMWPE Fiber Non-Woven Fabrics.

In order to investigate the influence of a hot-pressing process on the mechanical properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber non-woven fabrics with stretch and in-plane shear, UHMWPE non-woven fabric samples were prepared by adjusting the temperature, time, and pressure of the hot-pressing process, and mechanical property tests were carried out so as to clarify the influence of the hot-pressing process on the mechanical properties of the samples. The results show that the hot-pressing process mainly affects the silk-glue bonding strength of the samples; in the test range, with the increase in hot-pressing temperature and time, the tensile strength and in-plane shear strength of the samples increase and then decrease, and the best mechanical properties are obtained at 130 °C and 7 min of hot pressing, respectively; at 130 °C, the in-plane shear strength is 39.94 MPa and the tensile strength is 595.43 MPa; at 7 min, the in-plane shear strength is 63.0 MPa and the tensile strength is 643.30 MPa; with the increase in the hot-pressing pressure, the in-plane shear strength of the samples increases and then decreases, and the highest is 52.60 MPa, achieved at 8 MPa; in the range of 5-8 MPa, the tensile strength of the specimens did not change significantly, and increased significantly at 9 MPa, reaching a maximum strength of 674.55 MPa.

Key features of blend denim fabrics performance with dyed weft silk yarn and different weave structures

This research aimed to weave the warp indigo-dyed cotton yarn with un-dyed or dyed silk yarn and analyze the impact of different weft yarn structures on the properties of denim fabrics. The dyed silk yarn was performed by a selection of different anionic indigo and non-indigo blue dyestuffs. The dyeing shades of the anionic Indigo Carmine dye on silk exhibited high build-up at the acidic pH range 2–2.5 with poor washing fastness and even so, the cationic aftertreatment of the dyed silk samples showed un-matched color with indigo-dyed cotton yarns. The dyeing properties of two commercial non-indigo reactive and acid dyes on silk add other advantages. To ascertain the dyeing shades evaluation of the non-indigo dyes on silk, two sets of blended denim fabrics were investigated. The first set included a weft-wise silk yarn dyed with reactive dye RB 5, and the second set included silk yarns dyed with acid dye AB 193. Weaving of the blended fabrics was carried out in Twill 3/1, 3/2 Z,and Satin 53 patterns and exhibited significant color effects of the dyed silk yarns to those of the un-dyed control samples. The dyeing shades of the non-indigo RB 5 and AB 193 dyed weft-wise silk yarns were found to be matched in color performance with the conventionally indigo- dyed cotton yarns. Ultraviolet resistance of the blend denim fabrics was evaluated, showing significant improvement in UPF of the weft-wise dyed silk. The study claimed that the dyed silk yarns a good candidate for newly developed blend denim fabrics.

Synthesis and analysis of a novel phospho-nitrile flame retardant for cotton fabric

Phospho-nitrile flame retardant is a kind of phosphorus and nitrogen flame retardants with the characteristics of non-toxic, environmental protection and high efficiency, which deserves to be researched in depth. In this study, dopamine (DA) is grafted onto hexachlorocyclotriphosphonitrile (HCCP) to synthesize novel phospho-nitrile flame retardants (hexadopamine cyclotriphosphonitrile, HDCCP) by acylation reaction. The structures of HDCCP are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Gaussian. The pyrolysis process of HDCCP is characterized by thermal gravity analyzer (TGA), and the results demonstrate that the HDCCP has good thermal stability properties. The optimal preparation process is determined by orthogonal test and vertical combustion test (VBT). Eventually, crystallinity analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscope observation (SEM), limiting oxygen index test (LOI) and TGA are applied to investigate the flame-retardant properties of cotton fabrics with different mass concentration of the HDCCP. The results indicate that the flame retardant containing 6 wt% HDCCP not only exhibits the optimal flame retardancy, but also maintains excellent mechanical property.

Biomass phytate salt-based flame-retardant polyurethane coating for outdoor polyester fabric: A long-lasting solution

Polyurethane (PU)-coated polyester fabrics are commonly used in outdoor settings, but their flame-retardant properties are somewhat lacking. In this study, biomass phytate salt was applied to improve the flame retardancy and anti-dripping properties of PU-coated polyester fabrics. This study also explored the hydrostatic pressure, mechanical performance, heat release capacity, flame retardancy, washing durability, and mode of action of coated polyester fabrics. The polyester fabric coated with 4 % phytate salt-modified PU exhibited impressive self-extinguishing properties without any dripping. Additionally, the coated polyester fabric showed a low damaged length of 12.2 cm and a high LOI of 33.8 %, satisfying the requirements for the B1 level. The coated polyester fabric proved to withstand 50 washing cycles, highlighting its remarkable flame retardancy efficiency and durability. It also exhibited a significant reduction in heat release, suggesting the fire safety performance. Analysis of the thermal resistance and char residue revealed a condensed flame-retardant mechanism attributed to the phytate-based system. Overall, phytate salt shows promising potential as a long-lasting flame-retardant system for outdoor PU-coated polyester fabrics.

Investigating parameters affecting the real and virtual drapability of silk fabrics for traditional Hanbok

This paper presents research into the parameters affecting the real and virtual drapability of silk fabrics for traditional Hanbok. The KES-FB (Kawabata evaluation system of fabric) and the CLO (3D fashion design software) fabric kit system were used to evaluate the physical properties. The relationships between physical properties and the drape coefficient of silk fabrics were statistically analyzed. It was determined whether the objectified real fabric data could be used and applied as a database when implementing virtual clothing using a 3D virtual clothing program. The KES-FB properties and CLO fabric kit results indicated that the bending property and weight were significantly correlated with the drape coefficient. The bending rigidity and weight per unit area were influential parameters of the drape coefficient. The regression analysis results of both the KES-FB and the CLO fabric kit revealed that bending rigidity and thickness were statistically significantly correlated with the drape coefficient. The bending property was the most determining parameter for the drape coefficient of silk fabrics. A statistically significant difference between the real and virtual drape coefficients of stiffer silk fabrics was found. In the CLO 7.1 program, the accuracy of drape implementation of virtual fabrics was found to be useful when the bending stiffness of the actual fabric was less than 0.089 gf·cm2/cm and the elasticity was more than 1.03%. The results revealed that more research on the program modeling method considering the mechanical and physical properties of the real fabric and its structure is needed.

Optimizing Synergistic Silica–Zinc Oxide Coating for Enhanced Flammability Resistance in Cotton Protective Clothing

This study reports process optimization studies of silica and zinc oxide-based flame-retardant (FR) coatings on cotton fabric for protective clothing and enhanced flammability properties. The experiments were designed by central composite design (CCD) using response surface methodology (RSM) to assess the synergistic protective effects of silica and zinc oxide FR coating. These prepared sols were coated on cotton fabrics by a simple dip dry cure process. The resulting FR-finished fabrics were characterized by SEM, mechanical properties, flame retardancy, and air permeability. SEM results confirmed the homogenous spreading of particles on cotton fabrics. From TGA results, it was noticed that the incorporation of silica and ZnO in the prepared nano-sols results in improved thermal stability of the FR-finished fabrics. These sol–gel-treated FR cotton fabrics showed excellent comfort properties, which shows their suitability for fire-retardant protective clothing. RSM analysis proved that the predicted values are in good agreement with the experimental values since R2 values for time to ignite, flame spread time, and air permeability were greater than 0.90. The optimized concentration of silica and ZnO in FR-finished fabrics was found to be 0.302% and 0.353%, respectively, which was further confirmed by confirmatory experiments. The optimization analysis successfully optimized the process for synergistic coating of silica and zinc oxide nanoparticles for enhanced flammability properties of FR cotton fabric for protective clothing.

Facile Fabrication of Highly Efficient Chitosan-Based Multifunctional Coating for Cotton Fabrics with Excellent Flame-Retardant and Antibacterial Properties.

Interest in the development of eco-friendly, sustainable, and convenient bio-based coatings to enhance flame retardancy and antibacterial properties in cotton fabrics is growing. In this work, chitosan was protonated at its amino groups using a method with a high atom economy using an equimolar amount of amino trimethylene phosphonic acid (ATMP), resulting in the fabrication of a single-component chitosan-based multifunctional coating (ATMP-CS), thereby avoiding any additional neutralization or purification steps. Cotton fabrics coated with various loads of ATMP-CS were prepared through a padding-drying-curing process. The morphology, thermal stability, mechanical properties, antibacterial properties, flame-retardant behavior, and flame-retardant mechanism of these fabrics were investigated. The coating exhibited excellent film-forming properties, and it imparted a uniform protective layer onto the surfaces of the cotton fabrics. When the load capacity reached 11.5%, the coated fabrics achieved a limiting oxygen index of 29.7% and successfully passed the VFT test. Moreover, the ATMP-CS coating demonstrated antibacterial rates against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus reaching 95.1% and 99.9%, respectively. This work presents a straightforward and gentle approach to fabricating colorless, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient fabric coatings that have potential applications in promoting the use of bio-based materials.

3D‐cavity‐confined CsPbBr3 quantum dots for visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic C(sp3)–H bond activation

AbstractMetal halide perovskite (MHP) quantum dots (QDs) offer immense potential for several areas of photonics research due to their easy and low‐cost fabrication and excellent optoelectronic properties. However, practical applications of MHP QDs are limited by their poor stability and, in particular, their tendency to aggregate. Here, we develop a two‐step double‐solvent strategy to grow and confine CsPbBr3 QDs within the three‐dimensional (3D) cavities of a mesoporous SBA‐16 silica scaffold (CsPbBr3@SBA‐16). Strong confinement and separation of the MHP QDs lead to a relatively uniform size distribution, narrow luminescence, and good ambient stability over 2 months. In addition, the CsPbBr3@SBA‐16 presents a high activity and stability for visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic toluene C(sp3)–H bond activation to produce benzaldehyde with ∼730 µmol g−1 h−1 yield rate and near‐unity selectivity. Similarly, the structural stability of CsPbBr3@SBA‐16 QDs is superior to that of both pure CsPbBr3 QDs and those confined in MCM‐41 with 1D channels.

Evaluation of thermal comfort and air permeability properties of Lyocell blended drapery fabrics

PurposeThe paper aims to provide an investigation about the effect of weft yarn type on thermal comfort and air permeability properties of Lyocell blended drapery fabrics.Design/methodology/approachThe paper evaluates the effect of weft yarn type on thermal comfort and air permeability properties of Lyocell blended drapery fabrics. Twill drapery fabrics with 18 Tex linen warp yarn where two types of weft yarns were utilized respectively with the order of “A” yarn and “B” yarn. 58 Tex Lyocell Linen blended first weft yarn (A yarn) was kept constant and the second weft yarn (B yarn) varied in different yarn structures and yarn count. Thermal comfort properties such as thermal conductivity, thermal resistivity, thermal absorptivity, fabric thickness were measured by means of Alambeta device. Correlation matrix between the thermal properties was also displayed. Air permeability results were obtained by using SDL Atlas Digital Air Permeability Tester Model M 021 A. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was performed in order to investigate the effect of weft yarn type on thermal comfort and air permeability properties of Lyocell blended drapery fabrics.FindingsIn this paper, weft yarn type was found as a significant factor on some of the thermal comfort properties such as thermal conductivity, thermal resistivity, thermal absorptivity, fabric thickness and on the air permeability properties.Originality/valueThere are limited works related to evaluation of some thermal comfort and air permeability properties of Lyocell blended drapery fabrics.

The Functionalization of Cotton Fabric Using Urtica dioica Microcapsules to Develop UV Protective Textiles

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have highlighted the increased risk of skin cancer due to exposure to UV radiation. This emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the skin. Although sunscreens are commonly used for protection their high cost, the need for frequent reapplication, and pollution in coastal areas necessitate alternative solutions. Clothing also offers protection but requires additional application of dyes and finishes for prolonged effectiveness. The application of synthetic or natural dyes can enhance the UV protection properties of the fabric but Synthetic dyes contribute to pollution, while natural dyes lack durability. Addressing these challenges, this study focuses on providing a durable and sustainable solution for enhancing the UV protective properties of cotton fabric using Urtica dioica microcapsules based on RSM design. Urtica dioica plant extract serves as the core material for the microcapsules. Design Expert software 10 has been used for the study. It was observed through software that at 4.116% concentration of microcapsules, 3% concentration of binder and a curing temperature of 113.258 °C an optimum UPF with sufficient fabric properties can be achieved. On conducting the experiments on these optimum conditions UPF, tensile strength and bending length value were found to be 277.60, 14.89 N/cm2 and 2.00 cm respectively. Results indicate that cotton fabric demonstrates excellent UV protection properties even after the 20th wash cycle. This research contributes to the ongoing quest for fabric with UV protection, emphasizing both efficacy and sustainability compared to current synthetic alternatives available in the market.

Eco-friendly multifunctional coating for polyester-cotton blended fabrics with superior flame retardancy and antibacterial properties

Since the fire hazards of polyester-cotton blended (PTCO) fabrics and the hidden dangers of bacterial infection concerns caused by the contained cotton fiber, the design of flame retardant and antibacterial PTCO fabrics has received considerable attention. In this work, flame-retardant PTCO fabrics with satisfactory antibacterial properties were fabricated via a convenient and eco-friendly impregnation treatment involving guanidine phosphate (GP) and polyethylenimine (PEI). The prepared PTCO fabrics demonstrated excellent flame retardancy with a high limiting oxygen index value of 30.5 % and self-extinguishing capability, the damaged length was only 34 mm in the vertical flammability test. Furthermore, the peak heat release rate and the total heat release of coated PTCO fabrics were reduced significantly by 49 % and 38 %, respectively, indicating a substantial enhancement in fire safety. According to the analysis of the char residues and volatiles, GP presented great catalytic carbonization property, and PEI assisted the formation of the dense and stable carbon layer. The stable carbon layer effectively restricted mass and oxygen transfer between the PTCO fabrics and the environment. In addition, the introduction of PEI also produced more nonflammable gases to enhance the flame retardancy of the PTCO fabrics. Importantly, the GP/PEI coating barely deteriorate the physical and mechanical properties of the PTCO fabrics. The antibacterial rate of the GP/PEI-coated PTCO fabrics against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was 99.99 %, similar to that of GP-coated fabrics, indicating the efficacy antibacterial properties of GP, and the addition of PEI did not compromise the antibacterial properties of GP. This work offers an efficient and simple approach to producing multifunctional PTCO fabrics with excellent flame retardancy and antibacterial properties, which are hopeful to expand the promising application of PTCO fabrics.

The effects of dyeing and finishing processes on seam efficiency of cotton fabrics

The sewing process is a very important step in terms of fabric quality. Seam strength is affected by fabric-related properties as well as stitch-related parameters, and seam efficiency is found by the ratio of seam strength to fabric tensile strength. Therefore, processes that affect fabric tensile strength also affect seam strength. The effects of finishing and laundering processes on the physical properties of fabrics are extremely important as well as on the fastness properties. While reorganizing finishing processes in order to contribute to sustainability, the effects of the process on the physical properties of the fabrics may help make a decision. In this study, the effects of bleaching, dyeing, finishing and laundering processes on thickness, air permeability, tensile strength and elongation, seam strength and seam efficiency properties have been investigated. According to the results, it is observed that the mentioned processes are effective on the seam efficiency in different ways.

Microencapsulation of multi-component traditional Chinese herbs extracts and its application to traditional Chinese medicines loaded textiles

Extracts of traditional Chinese herbs (TCH) contain a variety of anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and other bioactive factors. However, the defect of easy degradation or loss of active ingredients limits its application in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) loaded textiles. In this work, TCH extracts containing different active ingredients were innovatively proposed as the core material of microcapsules. The feasibility of microencapsulation of multi-component TCH extracts in the essential oil state was initially demonstrated. Polyacrylate was also used as a binder to load the microcapsules onto the fabric to improve the durability and wash resistance of the treated fabric. Modeling the oil release of microcapsules for controlled release under different conditions may provide new possible uses for the materials. Results show that the constructed microcapsule has a smooth surface without depression and can be continuously released for over 30 days. The release behavior of microcapsules follows different release mechanisms and can be modulated by temperature and water molecules. The incorporation of microcapsules and polyacrylate does not significantly change the fabric's air permeability, water vapor transmission and hydrophilicity. The washing durability and friction properties of the microcapsule-based fabric are greatly improved, and it can withstand 30 washing tests and 200 friction tests. Moreover, the results of methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) release assay using human dermal papilla cells (HDP) as an in vitro template confirm that the microcapsule has no toxic effects on human cells. Therefore, the successful microencapsulation of multi-component TCH extracts indicates their potential application in the field of TCM-loaded textiles.

Fabrication and photocatalytic properties of a novel Z-scheme heterojunction ZIF-67/SnS2

Designing and preparing Z-type heterojunction photocatalysts is of great significance for improving photocatalytic performance. In this work, the Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst ZIF-67/SnS2 was successfully fabricated by a facile in-situ growth method. The crystal structure, morphology, surface element composition and valence state, and light absorption characteristics of the photocatalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic property was assessed by the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC). The transfer mechanism of photo-generated electrons and holes at the interface of the heterojunction was discussed. The formation of the Z-Scheme heterojunction enhances the absorption ability of ZIF-67/SnS2 to visible light, promotes the transfer of photogenerated charges, and inhibits the recombination of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs, while preserving the conductivity of ZIF-67 with higher conduction band (CB) potential. The strong reducing ability of the electrons in the conduction band produces superoxide radicals which are the major active species in the reaction system, and the photogenerated holes also participate in the photocatalytic reaction. Compared to ZIF-67 and SnS2, ZIF-67/SnS2 has significantly boosted photocatalytic activity. Among the prepared composites, ZIF-67/SnS2 with a mass ratio of SnS2 of 15 % had the best photocatalytic activity, and the photodegradation efficiency of TC reaches 84 % after 2 h of visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic reaction rate constant for the composite ZIF-67/SnS2 is 0.0109 min−1, which was 5.7 and 4.2 times as large as that for ZIF-67 and SnS2, respectively.

Fabrication and electrochemical properties of Mn, N, and S co-doped carbon fiber composite bamboo-based woodceramics electrodes

Prepared in this study, Mn, N and S co-doped woodceramics electrodes (WC@Mn-N/S) were prepared using waste bamboo as the base material, carbon fiber as the reinforcement fiber, KMnO4 and CH4N2S as dopants and activators. Mechanical analysis revealed a 68 % increase in the flexural strength of the matrix material reinforced with carbon fibers. Scanning electron microscopy observation indicated that WC@Mn-N/S retained the original natural pore structure of bamboo. The specific surface area (BET) analysis revealed that WC@Mn-N/S exhibited a specific surface area of 861.7 m2/g, with its pore size structure mainly distributed in the range of 1.3–3.8 nm. Electrochemical performance tests showed that the introduction of Mn, N and S elements endowed the bamboo-based electrode with pseudocapacitance characteristics. Additionally, the synergistic effect between these three elements imparted pseudocapacitance to the electrode material. WC@Mn-N/S performent a specific capacitance of 615 F/g, at 0.2 A/g with excellent capacitance retention (99.4 % after 5000 cycles). In the practical assembled in symmetrical capacitor the material showed high power density 500 W/kg and energy density 57.9 Wh/kg, indicating its excellent electrochemical performance.

Influence of phosphorus molar ratio on the fabrication and electrochemical properties of nanorod-shaped LiFePO4 synthesized via iron powder reduction for lithium-ion battery applications

Influence of phosphorus molar ratio on the fabrication and electrochemical properties of nanorod-shaped LiFePO₄ synthesized via iron powder reduction for lithium-ion battery applications

Fabrication and photocurrent generation properties of C60-ethylenediamine adduct microparticles film modified with poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl)

Regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl)-modified C60–ethylenediamine adduct microparticles film and corresponding references were fabricated using a combination of liquid/liquid interfacial precipitation and spin-coating. The photoexcitation properties of these composite films were evaluated through fluorescence spectra, which suggest that the C60–ethylenediamine adduct microparticles film enhance the fluorescence of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl). Larger photocurrents were observed when using the composite film of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) and C60–ethylenediamine adduct microparticles film compared to those obtained using poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) alone.

The effect of knit structure on natural dyeing properties of cotton fabric

Natural dyeing of textile materials is gaining popularity all over the world since natural dyes are mostly eco-friendly, less toxic, and less allergenic as compared with synthetic dyes. Although synthetic dyes offer a broad range of color and color fastness and bright hues, they are nonbiodegradable and carcinogenic compounds and cause water pollution as well as waste disposal problems. This study presents the natural dyeing of cotton knitted fabric with three different structures using R. cordifolia root extract as a natural dye. Knitted fabrics with three different structures, interlock (350 g/m2), single jersey (145 g/m2) and rib (135 g/m2), were produced and dyed with madder (Rubia Cordifolia) in the presence of tannic acid as a mordant. The dyed samples were evaluated in terms of color measurement results (CIE L*,a*, b*, C*, h0, DE) and color fastness properties.