Multifunctional Superamphiphobic Cotton Fabrics with Highly Efficient Flame Retardancy, Self-Cleaning, and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Abstract

Here, a facile method is reported to prepare multifunctional cotton fabrics with high flame retardancy, high electrical conductivity, superamphiphobicity, and high electromagnetic shielding. The cotton fabric surface was first modified with phytic acid (PA), which promoted dehydration and carbonization of cellulose to increase flame retardancy in the process of pyrolysis. Tannic acid (TA) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) coating with nanospheres as interlayers created hierarchical roughness that facilitated the construction of superamphiphobic surfaces and provided adhesion sites for silver nanoparticles. In addition, the TA-APTES coating improved flame retardancy because the APTES-containing silicon could form silicon carbon layers to isolate heat and oxygen. Subsequently, the surface energy of the composite cotton fabric was reduced by fluorine-containing molecules. The prepared composite cotton fabric exhibited excellent superamphiphobicity with contact angles of 160.3 and 152° for water and olive oil, respectively. The conductivity and EMI shielding efficiency of the prepared composite cotton fabric reached 629.93 S/cm and 76 dB, respectively. Importantly, the composite cotton fabric maintained a relatively stable EMI shielding efficiency even after cyclic bending and abrasion tests. Moreover, the composite cotton fabric possessed a high limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 45.3% and self-extinguishing properties with the peak heat release rate (PHHR) and total heat release (THR) reduced by 73 and 67%, respectively, than the pure cotton fabric, indicating the outstanding flame retardancy.

Superhydrophobic TiN-Coated Cotton Fabrics with Nanoscale Roughness and Photothermal Self-Healing Properties for Effective Oil–Water Separation

“…As shown in Figure S5, the SPS cotton fabric is easier to bend and deform. It shows that the SPS cotton fabric has superior softness …”

Flexible and durable conductive nickel/graphene‐coated polyethylene terephthalate fabric for highly efficient electromagnetic shielding

“…The maintenance of the primary properties especially the electrical conductivity of fabrics under mechanical and chemical treatments is a critical role in EMI shielding applications. 42,43 Therefore, the stability of electrical conductivity of the Ni/Gr-PET fabrics under different treatments including bending, ultrasonic, and organic solvents was evaluated. The stability of electrical conductivity of the manufactured Ni/Gr-PET fabrics under cyclic bending for 500, 1000, and 1500 times is shown in Figure 6A.…”

Preparation of Porous Silver Nanowires‐Melamine Formaldehyde Hybrid Composite Materials and Their Electromagnetic Shielding and Flame‐Retardant Properties

“…For instance, multifunctional cotton fabrics with high flame retardancy, high electrical conductivity, superamphiphobicity, and high EM shielding are highly desirable for protecting human health and or sensitive electronic equipment. [ 9 ] Especially, high flame‐retardant performance is always obligatory to prevent the electronic equipment from catching fire. Zhang et al fabricated the polyurethane foam/ground tire rubber/CNT composites with great flame retardancy and remarkable EMI shielding ability.…”