Preparation of High-Efficiency Flame-Retardant and Superhydrophobic Cotton Fabric by a Multi-Step Dipping

Abstract

Cotton fabric, as an important material, is suffering from some defects such as flammability, easy pollution and so on; therefore, it is important to make a flame-retardant and superhydrophobic modification on cotton fabric. In this study, we demonstrated a preparation of high-efficiency flame-retardant and superhydrophobic cotton fabric with double coated construction by a simple multi-step dipping. First, the fabric was immersed in branched poly(ethylenimine) (BPEI) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) water dispersions successively, and then immersed in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)-SiO2 toluene dispersion to form a BPEI/APP/PDMS/CNC-SiO2 (BAPC) composite coating on the surface of the cotton fabric. Here, the hydrophobic modified CNC-SiO2 rods were used to construct the superhydrophobic layer and the BPEI/APP mixture was used as the flame-retardant layer, as well as SiO2 particles which could further improve the flame-retardant effect. PDMS was mainly used as an adhesive between the BPEI/APP layer and the CNC-SiO2 layer. The resulting cotton fabric shows outstanding flame-retardant properties, in that the value of oxygen index meter (LOI) reaches 69.8, as well as excellent superhydrophobicity, in that the water contact angle (WCA) is up to 156.6°. Meanwhile, there is a good abrasion resistance, the superhydrophobicity is not lost until the 16th abrasion cycles and the flame retardant retains well, even after 100 abrasion cycles in an automatic vertical flammability cabinet under a pressure of 8.8 kPa.

Facile Preparation of Chitosan-Based Composite Film with Good Mechanical Strength and Flame Retardancy

“…Therefore, the TG curve was similar to the CS/CNF one, but showed the lowest temperature (255 °C) of the fastest decomposition rate due to the thermal decomposition of APP and BPEI. After 600 °C, the CS/CNF and CS/CNF/APP/BPEI composite films had higher residual mass (28% and 26.1%, respectively) than that of the pure one, suggesting the addition of CNF, APP and BPEI was beneficial to the thermal stability of the CS-based composite film [ 25 ].…”

“…Analogously, BPEI, APP and fluorodecyl polyhedral polysiloxane were deposited on the surface of the cotton fabric by simple layer-by-layer self-assembly; the resulting cotton showed excellent flame retardant properties, superhydrophobicity and self-healing properties [ 24 ]. Our research group also achieved a good flame retardant effect on the cotton fabrics through the introduction of both APP and BPEI [ 25 ].…”

Recent developments in preparation, properties, and applications of superhydrophobic textiles

“…In addition, TiO 2 nanoparticles can be potentially harmful to the human body if they are directly touched or inhaled in the process of longterm use. Recently, Huang et al 37 demonstrated how the preparation of superhydrophobic cotton fabric with a double-coated construction was achieved by a simple multi-step dipping process. Multiple impregnations of the same hydrophobic component liquid were conducive to the further enhancement of superhydrophobicity and the improvement of the coating uniformity to a certain extent.…”

Facile Preparation of Superhydrophobic and Flame-Retardant Cotton Fabrics

“…The water contact angle (WCA) of a superhydrophobic surface is greater than 150 °, and the slide angle (SA) is less than 10°. Superhydrophobic performance may be attained by building appropriate hierarchical micro/nanoscale structures to improve surface roughness, as well as modifying low-surface energy coatings [16][17][18][19].…”