Facile method for tent fabrics with eco-friendly/durable properties using waterborne polyurethane/lignin: Preparation and evaluation

Abstract

In this paper, a novel facile strategy is reported for fabricating an environment friendly, aging-resistant, and waterproof-breathable fabric using a “pad-knife” coating technique and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) containing isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and lignin as an antioxidant agent. Morphology, hydrophobic property, accelerated weathering aging property and artificial degradation performance as well as water vapor transmission and tensile property are characterized. Results show that, IPDI can effectively prevent PU discoloration. Lignin amount affects the morphological structure, tearing strength, WVTR and hydrostatic pressure capability of coated fabrics. Moreover, a 2% lignin addition provides fabrics with enhanced waterproof-breathable properties and tearing strength performance compared with pure WPU coated fabrics after accelerated weathering exposure. The facile coating technology can be applied to protective and functional textiles for military and civil polyester tents.

Lignocellulosic Materials for the Production of Biofuels, Biochemicals and Biomaterials and Applications of Lignocellulose-Based Polyurethanes: A Review

“…To a lesser extent, lignin has also been used to produce composites that can act as tent fabrics [ 254 ], potentiometric chemical sensors [ 255 ], chromatographic and chemoselective membrane applications [ 256 ] and stereolithography 3D printing ink.…”

Lignin use in nonwovens: A review

“…is burned to produce energy as a method of disposal and utilization (Mandlekar et al 2018;Bai et al 2019;Zhang et al 2020d).…”

“…Kraft lignin, which accounts for 85% of the world's lignin production, is separated with sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide (Argyropoulos 2013;Schreiber et al 2014). Lignosulfonates are derived from the sulfite process, which treats lignin with sulfurous acid, sulfite salt, as well as magnesium, calcium, sodium, or ammonium sulfites and bisulfites (Sadeghifar and Argyropoulos 2015;Zhang et al 2020d). As of the writing of this paper, lignosulfonates account for 90% of the total market of commercial lignin, and the worldwide production of lignosulfonates is approximately 1.8 million tons (Dallmeyer et al 2013;Sadeghifar and Argyropoulos 2015;Aro et al 2017).…”

“…Kraft lignin is also an exciting field for nonwovens since it may demonstrate high fractionated yield through organic solvent extraction via the use of ethanol (Zhang et al 2020a), 1-propanol (Zhang et al 2020a), 1-butanol (Zhang et al 2020 a), and acetone Argyropoulos 2015, 2016;Crestini et al 2017;Sadeghifar et al 2017). The resulting fractionated kraft lignin is high in phenolic OH groups while maintaining a low molecular weight and maximizing antioxidant activity.…”

“…However, the properties of nonwoven fabrics affected the performance of the membrane more significantly. Another probable application of the lignin-based coating is to manufacture waterproof-breathable fabrics such as tent fabrics where a lignin-based coating on polyester was reported to have high water vapor transmission rates, but low liquid water penetration (Zhang et al 2020d). Zhang et al (2020d) added lignin to a waterborne polyurethane (WPU) coating as an antioxidant agent, and the lignin could enhance the aging resistance of the fabrics and the water vapor transmission, especially with a 2% addition to the WPU coating.…”