Modification Of Cotton Research Articles

The Photocatalytical Properties of RGO/TiO2 Coated Fabrics

The aim of this work was to immobilize reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) on the surface of selected fibrous structures. Textile fabrics made of cotton (CO) and polyamide (PA) were used as a carrier. The following modification methods were applied: coating for modification of PA and dip-coating for modification of CO. In the dip-coating method, no auxiliaries were used, which is a huge advantage. The RGO/TiO2 coated fabrics were characterized using several techniques: ultraviolet–visible (UV–VIS) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The obtained results showed the immobilization of RGO and TiO2 on the fabrics. Raw fabrics absorb much less radiation than coated ones, which is associated with strong absorption of radiation by applied modifiers (RGO and TiO2). Photocatalytic activity of functionalized textiles was determined using aqueous phenol solutions. Phenol removal efficiency obtained for RGO/TiO2 coated CO and RGO/TiO2 coated PA was 51% and 46%, respectively. The hydroxyl radicals play a major role in the phenol photocatalytic degradation. The phenol removal efficiency in the fifth cycle was higher (about 14% and 8% for RGO/TiO2 coated CO and RGO/TiO2 coated PA, respectively) compared to the first cycle.

Microwave Assisted Preparation of Self-Extinguishing Cotton Fabrics by Small Molecules Containing Phosphorous and Nitrogen

Background: New methods for preparing surface modification of flame retardant cotton fabrics were employed by applying a microwave-assisted technique with a minimum amount of co-solvent. Efforts at flame retardant cotton fabrics treated with economic and environmentally friendly flame retardant compounds based on the small molecules piperazine, PN and PNN, were done successfully. Methods and Results: The evidence of flame retardant chemical penetrations or surface modification of cotton fabrics was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and the treated cotton fabrics were evaluated by flammability tests, such as 45°angle (clothing textiles test) and limiting Oxygen Index (LOI). Thermogravimetric analysis of all treated cotton fabrics in a nitrogen atmosphere showed high thermal stability, as decomposition occurred between 276.9~291.2°C with 30.5~35.7% residue weight char yield at 600°C. Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) and the 45° angle flammability test were used to determine the efficiency of the flame-retardant treatments on the fabrics. LOI values for control twill fabric showed ~18 vol% oxygen in nitrogen, whereas the highest treatment level had 32 vol%. High add-on treatments with flame retardants also readily passed the 45° angle flammability test. Conclusion: In the Microscale Combustion Calorimeter (MCC) tests, a decline in heat of combustion was shown through the smaller values acquired for THR, HRC and Tmax for all PN and PNN samples.