Polyurethane-urea microcapsules with limonene oil as the active agent were produced by interfacial polymerization, and their suitability for textile applications was studied. Experimental conditions for the textile substrates impregnation were based on industrial requirements and set up at laboratory scale using a minifoulard. The success of the polymerization reaction leading to the formation of the polyurethane-urea shell was checked by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Particle size distributions and morphology of the microcapsules were studied using a particle size analyzer (Coulter LS230), optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The effectiveness of the textiles impregnation and the durability of the impregnation effect were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and by headspace/GC/FID. Under the present research, a product was developed and its performance, in regard to industrial requirements, was successfully tested.
Microencapsulation reveals numerous advantages over conventional applications of flavors or fragrances. Thus, the goal of this work was to study the release rate of thyme oil through the polylactide (PLA) microcapsules prepared by coacervation. Microcapsules have spherical shape and a mean particle size of 36 μm. The results show that the release of thymol is faster in the first hour and remains almost constant in the next days. Moreover, it was observed that the release of the polar compounds of thyme oil is faster than the apolar ones. The diffusion coefficient in the first hour of release was 1.39 × 10–15 m2/s for thymol and 5.21 × 10–17 m2/s for p-cymene. For a period of 5 days, diffusion coefficients of 3.81 × 10–17 m2/s for thymol and 1.43 × 10–18 m2/s for cymene were determined. The diffusion of thyme oil from the PLA cross-linked membrane was dependent on the microcapsules morphological characteristics.
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