Fabrication Of Surfaces Research Articles

Flexible, stretchable multifunctional silver nanoparticles-decorated cotton textile based on amyloid-like protein aggregation for electrothermal and photothermal dual-driven wearable heater.

The design of multifunctional, high-performance wearable heaters utilizing textile substrates has garnered increasing attention, particularly in the development of body temperature and health monitoring devices. However, fabricating these multifunctional wearable heaters while simultaneously ensuring flexibility, air permeability, Joule heating performance, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and antibacterial properties remains a significant challenge. This study utilizes phase transition lysozyme (PTL) film-mediated electroless deposition (ELD) technology to deposit silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on the cotton fabrics surface in a mild aqueous solution at room temperature, thereby constructing a wearable heater with long-term stability, high conductivity, and exceptional photothermal properties. The textiles enriched with Ag NPs exhibit remarkable electrothermal and photothermal dual-driven heating capabilities, achieving temperatures exceeding 110 °C within 50s under 2 V, or in merely a few seconds through photothermal conversion. Importantly, these textiles retain the intrinsic flexibility and breathability of the textile substrate. Furthermore, the amyloid-like protein Ag NP integrated textiles demonstrate excellent antibacterial properties, and exhibit a high EMI shielding efficiency of 50 dB within the frequency range of 8.2-12.4 GHz. Therefore, these multifunctional Ag NPs wearable heaters were expected to find applications in areas such as smart wearable clothing and future health management.

Research on high-velocity ballistic impact of para-aramid sateen fabric with ZnO nanorods oriented to the development of soft body armor

This study introduces an innovative approach of utilizing ZnO nanorod growing technology to the sateen fabric in order to improve its ballistic performance. Through SEM, FTIR, XRD and XPS analyses, ZnO nanorods with majority length of 1000–1500 nm and fineness of 200–600 nm have been deposited on the surface of sateen fabric surface Compared the fabric with ZnO nanorods (S-11-Nrs) with its neat counterpart, the mechanical properties of S-11-Nrs are increased, especially the inter-filament friction and fabric tensile breaking strength. However, in the impact process, the number of filaments involved in the impact is reduced and the filaments are mainly failure by the shear action of the bullets. Due to these positive and negative effects, the energy absorption of S-11-Nrs displays inferior ballistic energy absorption. Nevertheless, at lower areal density, in the non-perforation test, S-11-Nrs presents less BFS and shows better resistance to the consecutive shotting process compared with the neat fabric. The reason is that the increase of inter-filament friction limits the movement of filaments and thus results in less BFS. In addition, the flexibility, air permeability and moisture permeability are still kept. This research offers valuable insights for the design and development of comfortable soft body armor.

Enhancing heat and moisture transfer of porous fabrics using arrayed opposed jets: Experimental and numerical investigations

Achieving rapid fabric drying and ensuring a uniform distribution of surface temperature and moisture is essential for the post-processing stage in printing and dyeing. Although jet technology is commonly used to enhance heat transfer processes, the mechanism of heat and moisture transfer using array opposed jet for fabric drying is still unclear. This paper proposes that using opposed jet to enhance the drying process for four different fabric structural types, the influence of jet Reynolds number and excess temperature on the change of fabric moisture content was analyzed using experimental methods, then by defining the fabric as a porous medium containing two-phase components, the flow characteristics and temperature field distribution of the opposed jet were obtained using numerical methods. The results indicated that the four different structural types of fabrics exhibited similar heat-moisture transfer characteristics under the air supply mode of the opposed jet. Furthermore, the critical evaporation temperature of fabrics with hygroscopic properties was higher than that of non-hygroscopic fabrics. When the Reynolds number increased from 649.4 to 2165.3 and the excess temperature increased from 40 ℃ to 70 ℃, the drying time was shortened by a maximum of 56.2 % and 25.5 %, respectively. Under the impact of the array opposed jet, the thermal boundary layer on the fabric surface was thinned, and the local Nusselt number presented different peaks along the length direction of the impinging surface. Within the range of operating conditions considered, at a jet wind speed of 4.5 m/s and an excess temperature of 70 ℃, the maximum surface drying rate of the fabric was achieved. The relative deviations of heat flux and mass flux on the impact surface are all within 10 %. This study provides a theoretical basis for the structural design and drying mechanism exploration of fabric drying equipment.

Exploration of Creativity Through Project-Based Learning in Eco-Printing Using the Pounding Technique for Students at Kalanganyar Public Elementary School Sidoarjo

Exploration to develop elementary school students' creativity through the application of Project-Based Learning (PBL) with pounding-based Ecoprint techniques at Kalanganyar State Elementary School, Sidoarjo. The Ecoprint program at Kalanganyar Elementary School is an initiative that involves college students teaching grade 7 to develop children's creativity. Ecoprint activities involve a process of creating environmentally friendly batik fabric that emphasizes sustainability principles. In this activity, leaves, flowers, or other organic materials are used as natural motifs on batik fabric by pressing them directly onto the fabric surface. In this program, students in grades 4, 5, and 6 at Kalanganyar Elementary School are invited to explore the beauty of nature through Ecoprinting using the pounding technique, which utilizes natural materials to print environmentally friendly artworks. In this process, children not only learn about printing techniques but also important values such as environmental sustainability, respect for nature, and responsibility towards the environment. They are given the opportunity to develop their creativity by creating designs inspired by their surroundings. The program employs an approach that includes problem identification, preparation, coordination with parents and the community, activity socialization, program inauguration, and implementation. Through this activity, it is hoped that children can broaden their understanding of the importance of preserving the environment from an early age and develop critical and creative attitudes in addressing ecological challenges in the future. Additionally, the Ecoprint program also provides opportunities for children to collaborate, receive additional training, and build positive relationships with the surrounding community. This is expected to help them grow into caring, independent young people who make positive contributions to sustaining our environment.

Incorporating MXene with Redox Carriers on Capacitive Carbon Cloth-Based Freestanding Electrodes for Power Applications

Abstract Battery-like organic materials including quinone-based electrodes with electrochemical activity have been extensively investigated for their use as electrode materials in energy storage devices due to their economic competitiveness and sustainable benefits. However, the intrinsic electrical insulating nature of organic quinones and their electrochemical reactivity limit power capability and stability upon charge/discharge cycling, respectively. Here, we report the preparation of a concentric layered architecture, MXene/Anthraquinone/Carbon Cloth (M/AQ/CC), by physisorption of anthraquinone onto the surface of carbon cloth via non-covalent π–π interactions, followed by dipping in exfoliated MXene suspension. The M/AQ/CC electrode, with a high mass loading (18.2 mg cm-2), delivered a capacity of 46 mAh g-1 (about 1 mAh cm-2 areal capacity or 6 mAh mL-1 volume) at 0.5 A g-1, with good rate performance and an enhanced cyclability over 5k cycles. This simple preparation method can also be applied to incorporate MXene with a series of alternative organic redox carriers on freestanding carbon cloth, including thionin acetate and anthraquinone-2-sulfonate. The improvement in electrochemical performance highlights an efficient approach to store more charges via redox reactions from organic quinones pi-stacked at carbon surfaces, thanks to a protective MXene shield that stabilizes the Faradaic behavior of quinones over repetitive charge-discharge processes. The simplicity and versatility of this method should enable design of many advanced electrode materials based on MXene/quinones/carbon cloth for power devices

Engineering of Electrocatalysts for HER and Oer Using Carbon Cloth Combined with Nonprecious Metals

The energy production sector has faced many challenges, especially regarding the environmental impacts caused by the use of fossil fuels. Renewable hydrogen, generated via electrolysis of water, has emerged as a possible solution to reducing global reliance on fossil fuels as a source of energy. Unfortunately, the electrocatalysts used currently for water splitting are expensive and limited, therefore, development of commercially viable, new cost-effective electrocatalysts is required. Many emerging catalysts are made using hydrothermal synthesis, demonstrating good water-splitting performance. However, the methods used to make such materials can be time and energy consuming, while generating a significant quantity of chemical waste (solvent and nanoparticles), which remain in the environment for long periods. This study focuses on the development of an environmentally benign solvent-free, room temperature synthesis design taking advantage of abundant, low-cost materials.In the first phase of this study, a novel one-pot room temperature reaction was identified for the facile modification of Ni-containing substrates. This involved a simple hydrolysis method realizing NiMoO4/NiS/Ni(OH)2 complexes formed on the surface of Nickel Foam. This newly developed catalyst demonstrated impressive OER activity under alkaline conditions, showing great potential as an alternative catalyst for water splitting. The electrochemically active surface area of the modified Nickel Foam was also investigated resulting in an impressive fold increase in surface area.Nickel Foam in its own right is an effective catalyst for water splitting, making it challenging to discriminate the effectiveness of immobilised electrocatalysts. It is also a porous substrate which makes it challenging to accurately estimate its performance, and formation of oxides can result in false results and corrosion over time with nickel dissolution being of environmental concern. In order to address these issues, the second phase of the work employed carbon cloth as a substrate due to its attractive features of low cost, availability, porosity and lack of catalytic performance in the absence of modification.A number of metals including copper, were electrodeposited on the carbon cloth and further modified by this novel one-pot room-temperature hydrolysis reaction, resulting in copper molybdate coated carbon cloth which presented a significant improvement relative to the bare substrate. Performance data realized good current density, impressive onset potentials, good Tafel slopes, low impedance, and good stability. The substrate’s performance regarding the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) were evaluated in alkaline electrolytes with the view to develop a novel bifunctional material prepared using a novel, efficient electroless deposition method. A comparison was made with respect to commercially available electrocatalysts, and hydrothermally prepared materials used currently for OER and HER with encouraging bifunctional data realized. The new room temperature electroless deposition method represents a solvent free, low temperature, facile approach which provides excellent coverage on the Ni Foam/carbon cloth surface. The method has resulted in a suite of viable candidates that can act as bifunctional materials for water splitting based on a green synthesis approach.Fig 1: Schematic showing the proposed formation of NiMoO4/NiS/Ni(OH)2 at NF surface. Figure 1

In situ synthesis of Fe3O4/ carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanostructures on nylon fabric with efficient flame retardant and antibacterial properties

Knitted fabrics are ideal for flexible, conductive, and magnetic smart textiles but have low adhesion for materials, especially inorganic ones. In this study, carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH) and magnetite (Fe3O4) magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized in situ and then coated onto nylon knitted fabric. Using nylon and in situ coating of these nanostructures enhances nanotube absorption via hydrogen bonding and provides magnetite growth sites on both the coated nanotubes and the fabric surface, due to the direct attraction of positively charged iron salts to the polar bonds of nylon. The effect of the weight ratio on the characteristics was evaluated through the coatings with Fe3O4 to MWCNT-COOH at different ratios. Surface structure, chemical analysis, microstructure, electrical conductivity, magnetic properties, antibacterial properties, zeta potential, and thermal properties were studied. FESEM results and surface structure evaluation indicated that increasing the quantity of iron salts influenced the morphology: a single layer was observed at a 2:1 ratio and the combination of layers and particles at 4:1 and 6:1 ratios. At 8:1, there was a recurrence of a layered structure. Magnetite nanoparticles led to the fusion of carbon nanotubes and this was evident from the magnetic characteristic of the fabric. Magnetic properties showed an increasing trend up to the 6:1 ratio (from 0.06 emu/g to 1.00 emu/g) and then decreased at the 8:1 ratio (0.71 emu/g) due to an increase in the number of agglomerations in the solution. These observations were further supported by crystallography analysis of the synthesized magnetite nanoparticles which showed variations in the crystal size. The fabric had better adhesion of carbon nanotubes with increased iron salt content which helped in coating and conductivity. The introduction of these nanostructures also greatly enhanced the heat-resistant properties of the fabrics with the burning length reduced by about 70 % while the photothermal properties of the fabrics reached 81°C. In addition, a significant antibacterial effect was observed in the present study with a minimum of 64 % efficiency under non-irradiated conditions and up to 99 % bacterial killing under irradiated conditions.

Fabrication of Superomniphobic TiAl6V4 Surface for Self-Cleaning and Anti-Biofouling Effect of Medical Devices

Ever since Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter announced their theories with respect to wettability transition with surface roughness, numerous studies on fabricating superhydrophobic surface have been carried out to provide industries with the advantages of the superhydrophobic surfaces such as anti-frosting, water proof, and self-cleaning. In metal industries, several methods have been developed to achieve superhydrophobic surfaces on various metals, including aluminum, copper, and steel. However, the fabricated surfaces only show over 150 of contact angles (CAs) for water (surface tension = 72.0 mN/m at 25 ℃) and do not show excellent repellency to low surface tension oils.In the past few years, advantages of superomniphobic surfaces have been identified and many efforts are directed toward their practical industrial applications. Superomniphobic surfaces, unlike the superhydrophobic surfaces, show high repellency to low surface tension oils as well as anti-fouling, oil transfer, and oil-water separation properties. A superomniphobic surface is required to have not only a low surface energy but also a specific surface structure, because of which, it is much more difficult to fabricate than a typical superhydrophobic surface. Although a few fabrications of superomniphobic surface on titanium alloy (TiAl6V4) substrates have been reported, they are not superomniphobic to low surface tension oils like hexadecane, or are too far from industrialization because their fabrication relies on difficult methods such as laser micromachining. Further, there has been no report on achieving superomniphobic TiAl6V4 surfaces for hexadecane (surface tension = 27.1 mN/m at 25℃) using a simple method.In this study, we render TiAl6V4 substrates superomniphobic by acid etching followed by anodization. Each process is analyzed with respect to processing times for obtaining optimal hierarchical microhorn/nanopore structures. The surface structures were then fluorinated by a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coating, thereby imparting great repellency to low surface tension oils, including hexadecane. The surface morphology of TiAl6V4 in each process and analyses of the surface chemical change are discussed. Figure 1

Phosphorylated octa-aminopropyl POSS grafting on proanthocyanidin interface decorated 2D MXene for enhanced flame-retardancy of cotton fabric nanocomposites

Two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet materials (MXenes) have unparalleled advantages in the field of flame-retardant multifunctional composites, but their dispersibility, flame retardancy and compatibility with the matrix are poor and need to be enhanced. In this research, we employed interfacial decoration and grafting modification to firstly introduce proanthocyanidins (PCs) onto MXenes surface (forming PC-MXenes) to increase the number of available active sites. On this basis, phosphorylated A-POSS was grafted onto PC-MXene (resulting in PAP@P-MXene) via a one-pot method, organic–inorganic hybrid flame-retardant PAP@P-MXene nano-coatings were subsequently constructed on the surface of cotton fabrics via an immersion method, and their structure-property relationships were verified. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results revealed that PAP@P-MXene displayed a high char residue content of 32.0 % at 800 °C, illustrating its pretty good fire-safety properties. Typically, the residual char amount of coated cotton fabric with 12 wt% PAP@P-MXene (C-PAP@P-MXene-3) under a N2 atmosphere was as high as 37.1 %. Additionally, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) increased to 31 %, while the peak heat release decreased by 79.83 %. C-PAP@P-MXene-3 also displayed a UL-94 V-0 rating and self-extinguishing ability, all of which demonstrated excellent fire safety performance. The unique 2D nanosheet structure of MXenes, along with their innovative structural design and synergistic flame-retardant strategy, endows the nanomaterials with good dispersibility and flame-retardant effects, which has led to the development of new flame-retardant strategies and expanded the potential applications of MXene materials.

Application and evaluation knitted electrodes for body signal measurement using adhesive intermediate electrode

Textile electrode is capable of measuring the myoelectric potentials of skeletal muscles such as electromyography (EMG), owing to their outstanding low weight, flexibility, breathability, and comfort properties. Nonetheless, textile surfaces often exhibit intermittent adhesion between the electrode surface and the skin, which can result in fluctuations in electrical resistivity due to the inherent characteristics of textiles. This study aimed to suggest the solutions to improve adhesive of textile electrode for the improvement of electrode performance with high quality signal by minimizing these intermittent contacts. For this, an adhesive intermediate, two different conductive materials, between the skin and the textile electrode was introduced to improve the instability skin contact, respectively. To assess the impact of various adhesive intermediates on knitted electrodes, two different types of adhesive intermediates were utilized: a conductive hydrogel-based adhesive intermediate and a conductive paste-based adhesive intermediate. Moreover, the durability of knitted electrodes with adhesive intermediate was evaluated by assessing the changes of signal quality during drying time for 180 min. As a results of sEMG measurement, it was confirmed that the sEMG signal was stably detecting by applying the adhesive intermediate. Both types of adhesive intermediate significantly increased the signal acquisition performance of knitted electrodes by more than threefold. After five washing cycle, the knitted electrodes with two types of adhesive intermediate maintained approximately 80% of their initial SNR values. Therefore, the use of the adhesive intermediate presented in this study not only improves the performance of the electrode but also ensures reusability.

Interface Engineering of Flower-like Co2P/WO3-x/Carbon Cloth Catalysts with Oxygen Vacancies for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

The Constructing an efficient and low-cost oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst is critical for improving the performance of electrolysis in alkaline water. In this study, a self-supported electrocatalyst of flower-like cobalt phosphide and tungsten oxide (Co2P/WO3-x/CC) was prepared on carbon cloth (CC) surface by hydrothermal reaction with solution immersion etching and phosphorization annealing under H2/Ar atmosphere. This strategy can generate oxygen vacancies (OV), improving the speed of charge transfer between cobalt phosphide (Co2P) and tungsten oxide (WO3-x) components. The catalyst greatly increases the electrochemical active surface area, which is beneficial for efficient oxygen evolution. Electrochemical testing studies show that in 1.0 M KOH solution, Co2P-WO3-x/CC catalyst exhibits good OER activity, with a low overpotential of 254 mV at 10 mA cm-2, a small Tafel slope of 58.32 mV dec-1. The synergistic effect of oxygen vacancies and Co2P with WO3-x can regulate electronic structures, expose more active sites, and cooperatively enhancing the OER activity. This study provides a workable strategy for preparing efficient non-noble metal OER electrocatalysts on engineered interfaces and OV.

Enhancing coloration performance and colour fastness of nano‐pigment ink‐jet‐printed blended fabrics through cationic and water‐repellent surface modification

AbstractThe coloration performance and colour fastness properties, crucial for industrial textile printing, depend on the spreading and fixation behaviour of ink‐jet droplets on porous fabrics. Current nano‐pigment‐based ink‐jet applications provide unstable results for these properties, especially for synthetic and blended fabrics. This study focuses on cellulose‐based blended fabrics as substrates to modify the wetting properties of fabrics through cationic and water‐repellent treatments, to improve the coloration performance and colour fastness systematically. The study conducted analytical experiments to analyse the surface element composition, ion potential and surface morphology of the fabrics. Differences in printing colour and pattern performance were attributed to the behaviour of ink droplet spreading on the fabric surface and inside the fabric, including wetting time, colourant distribution, and ring shape. The results indicate that ink droplet spreading on fabrics significantly influences printing pattern sharpness, including edge clarity and colour intensity, which can be improved through surface modification, including cationic and water repellent treatment. The use of blended fabrics treated with 1% cationic modifier and 0.05% fluorine‐containing water repellent resulted in effective suppression of droplet formation and significant enhancement of colour performance and fastness. Furthermore, as the ink droplet volume decreased from 5 to 1 μL, the coffee ring effect on the fabric treated with the water repellent agent gradually diminished, leading to improved printing sharpness during the printing process.

Experimental investigation comparing Far-UVC (222nm) and UVC (254nm) for inactivation of bacteria on hard and fabric surfaces

Bacterial infections are very common and can result from contact with contaminated surfaces in indoor environments. Far-UVC irradiation (222 nm) is now being explored as an emerging solution for disinfecting surfaces. We conducted a comparison of the surface disinfection efficacy between two UVC sources: a krypton-chloride Far-UVC lamp at 222 nm and a traditional 254 nm mercury-type UVC lamp. We evaluated the bactericidal effects of UVC irradiation at ten doses from 0.5 mJ/cm2 to 37.6 mJ/cm2 for both wavelengths on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), on two commonly encountered hard surfaces: plastic and stainless steel, and MRSA was tested for cotton fabric. The results indicated that for hard surfaces two decay stages were identified as the UVC dose increased. In the first stage, the three bacteria exhibited rapid inactivation. However, as the irradiation approached 5 mJ/cm2, the decay rate slowed down, indicating the occurrence of a second stage. Our study highlights the importance of cautious calculation when using a specific stage to estimate UVC dose for disinfection purposes. Specifically, we found that achieving 99.9% disinfection efficacy of MRSA on a plastic surface requires an actual Far-UVC dose of 32.80 mJ/cm². In contrast, if only the first stage decay rate constant is considered, the dose would be greatly underestimated (8.368 mJ/cm²). This shows the large discrepancy between these two estimation approaches. The Far-UVC irradiation results on cotton fabric surfaces did not exhibit a second stage, which may relate to the fabric structure.

Laser Cutting of Non-Woven Fabric Using UV Nanosecond Pulsed Laser.

The efficient cutting of non-woven fabric shows great significance to the development of the textile industry. In recent years, laser cutting technology has been widely applied in the clothing industry due to its high efficiency and cutting quality. In this work, a UV nanosecond pulsed laser with a wavelength of 355 nm and a max power of 6.5 W is used to cut non-woven fabric with a thickness of 0.15 mm. The variation of kerf width, surface morphology, and chemical contents are investigated under different laser processing parameters, and the optimal processing parameter is determined. The experimental results demonstrate that the degree of crystallization and chemical composition of the kerf on the non-woven fabric surface is significantly influenced by laser cutting parameters such as laser scanning speed (from 100 to 700 mm/s) and frequency (from 20 to 70 kHz). The scanning speed of 500 mm/s and frequency of 30 kHz are considered the best parameters for achieving abundant energy for the complete and efficient cutting of non-woven fabric. In addition, the level of carbonization and oxidation reaches a relatively low value, and the kerf width is 0.214 mm, which is considered a reasonable value under the optimal processing parameters, showing high cutting quality. Furthermore, the effect of different cutting treatments on surface morphology and chemical contents is also studied. The experimental results present that the non-woven fabric cut by laser possesses a flat kerf, showing a similar effect to that of scissor cutting. Moreover, due to the programmability of laser processing patterns, it is possible to create more intricate designs on non-woven fabric. This facilitates the application and promotion of laser-cut non-woven fabrics. These results can provide a certain reference for laser cutting in the textile industry and are expected to allow for the cutting of high-quality kerf with low carbonization and oxidation.

Effects of plasma modification of hybrid Kevlar/PTFE fabric surface on adhesive and tribological properties

A study on surface modification with Ar and N2 plasma of hybrid PTFE/Kevlar fabrics was conducted. The chemical and molecular structure changes of the PTFE and Kevlar fibers were analyzed as well as their surface properties i.e. roughness, morphology, wettability, and surface energy. The results show that the treatment caused etching and defluorination on the PTFE fiber surface improving its hydrophilicity, surface energy, and adhesion of the Kevlar fiber without weakening its mechanical strength. The plasma treatment contributed to improving the interfacial strength of the composite, enhancing its adhesion to the metal substrate. The long-term friction and wear behaviors were also investigated to obtain a better understanding of the tribological properties of the hybrid Kevlar/PTFE-epoxy/phenolic composites. The results illustrate that the treated fabric composite showed better wear resistance and self-lubrication performance due to the improved wettability and adhesive properties of the fabrics. The modification effect of the sample treated with Ar plasma is better; however, N2 is economical, and the effect is also significant.

A novel PDA/POSS transition layer on the surface of UHMWPE fibers by co-depositing to improve the mechanical properties of composites

The surface treatment of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers is one of the key technologies for the application of UHMWPE fibers composites. In this paper, the interface transition layer of polydopamine (PDA) and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) co-deposited on the surface of corona pre-treatment fiber fabric is used to the uniform and efficient distribution of loads between the fibers and the resin matrix, especially to significantly improve the flexural modulus of UHMWPE fiber fabric composites. Under 2.5 kW corona pre-treatment, 4 g/L of dopamine hydrochloride and 2 wt% of γ-Aminopropyl triethoxysilane aqueous solution, the impact strength, flexural strength, and modulus of UH-C2.5@PDA/PA2 fiber fabric/epoxy composites are greatly improved to 218.6 kJ/m2, 151.7 MPa, and 7.8 GPa, respectively, which are 72 %, 106 % and 143 % higher than those of the untreated UHMWPE fiber composites. It may be attributed to: (1) the corona pre-treatment of UHMWPE fiber induces larger amount of active sites on fiber surface and higher surface energy, leading to a better wettability and adhesion with the matrix resin; (2) the mechanical interlocking engagement between the fibers and nano-POSS particles effectively prevents fibers extraction from the matrix resin and increases the friction of relative sliding; (3) POSS can strengthen the transition layer. The failure of UHMWPE fiber reinforced composites can be mainly attributed to energy absorption of matrix resin fracture, interface damage and relative sliding between matrix resin and fibers, fiber yield deformation and fiber fracture.

Advanced Preparation Methods and Biomedical Applications of Single-Atom Nanozymes.

Metal nanoparticles with inherent defects can harness biomolecules to catalyze reactions within living organisms, thereby accelerating the advancement of multifunctional diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. In the quest for superior catalytic efficiency and selectivity, atomically dispersed single-atom nanozymes (SANzymes) have garnered significant interest recently. This review concentrates on the development of SANzymes, addressing potential challenges such as fabrication strategies, surface engineering, and structural characteristics. Notably, we elucidate the catalytic mechanisms behind some key reactions to facilitate the biomedical application of SANzymes. The diverse biomedical uses of SANzymes including in cancer therapy, wound disinfection, biosensing, and oxidative stress cytoprotection are comprehensively summarized, revealing the link between material structure and catalytic performance. Lastly, we explore the future prospects of SANzymes in biomedical fields.

Scaled-up Processes for the Preparation of Enhanced Antibacterial ZnO-Menthol, ZnO-Chitosan, and ZnO-Triclosan Flake/Spine-like Nanocomposites, and their Biocompatibility and Toxicity Studies

Introduction: Nanomaterials, especially their biocompatibilities and toxicities, have not been studied and their integration in real applications is still limited. Method: This paper addresses this gap by focusing on the development of antibacterial nanomaterials by combining flake/spinal ZnO nanostructures with organic antibacterial agents (menthol, chitosan, and triclosan). We systematically study their biocompatibility and toxicity, intending to apply them practically on fabric surfaces. Result: Based on the known photocatalytic and antibacterial properties of ZnO, our hypothesis suggests that the unique flake/spine ZnO nanostructures can further improve the antibacterial efficacy through induced mechanistic approaches. The synergistic effect achieved by combining ZnO with menthol, chitosan, and triclosan improves the overall bactericidal ability. XRD, XRF, FTIR, SEM, and UV-visible spectroscopy are used to characterize the nanocomposites. The antibacterial properties of the modified fabrics are tested using standard spread plate techniques. Biocompatibility and toxicity studies using a mouse model provide a comprehensive picture of the safety profile. Conclusion: This work advances the understanding of antibacterial nanomaterials, and paves the way for their wider manufacturing and practical use in textiles, meeting the industrial needs of antimicrobial clothing and wound dressings.

Endowing viscose fabric ultraviolet and antibacterial activities using zinc oxide nanoparticles

To enhance the bioactive functionality of viscose fabrics by way of a new eco-friendly approach, novel green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were biosynthesized and incorporated as functional additives in the finishing formulations encompassing citric acid as a green cross-linking agent and sodium hypophosphite as a potential catalyst using pad-dry-cure method. For this purpose, ZnO-NPs were biosynthesized using zinc acetate as a processor and our formerly prepared and fully characterized starch nanoparticles having particle size ranged of 80–100 nm as a green reducing and stabilizing agent for substituting the traditionally used toxic reducing agents. The Zetasizer determined that the ZnO-NPs were approximately tailored at 18–20 nm in size, while the ultraviolet–visible spectra revealed highly symmetric single-band absorption with a maximum peak around 382 nm. In contrast, both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy of finished viscose fabric in the presence of ZnO-NPs-III confirm the presence of ZnO-NPs and the formation of agglomerated nanostructures on the fabric surface. The finished fabric had an ultraviolet protection factor of 34.07 compared with 4.0 for untreated fabric, and the antibacterial activities had very good bacteriostatic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria, compared with zero for untreated fabric. Furthermore, how the finishing bath ingredients interact with the fabric was projected.

A facile biomass-based coating for flax fabric toward plant fiber/biobased epoxy composite with enhanced fire safety

The natural abundance, biodegradability, and low density of plant fibers, together with biobased epoxy thermoset resin, have driven the increasing popularity of plant fiber/polymer composites (PFRPs) to wider applications in various industries. However, the striving for biomass-based flame retardants (FRs) treatment for PFRPs remained a bottleneck due to polymers’ inherent vulnerability against fire and the increasing environmental awareness. In this work, a facile two-step aqueous solution coating process was proposed for fabric surface treatment of flax fabric using fully biobased phytic acid and chitosan from polysaccharides. The treated flax fabric demonstrated self-extinguishing behavior when ignited and showed a decrease in peak heat release rate (PHRR) by 58% under combustion. The laminate produced by this treated flax fabric and biobased epoxy resin showed a decrease of PHRR by 36% and an increase of more than 200% for the time of torch fire burn-through, demonstrating intriguing flame retardance brought by only FRs treatment on flax fabric reinforcements. Various measurements were done to elaborate on the role of treated flax fabric in the flame retardancy of polymer composites.