In this study, fabrication of smart polymer and cotton fabrics with temperature-and pH-responsive as well as antibacterial activity was aimed. For this aim, random poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-comethacrylamide) P(NIPAM-co-MAM) copolymers containing different ratio of NIPAM/MAM monomers were synthesized through free radical addition polymerization method via 2,2'-azobis (2 methylpropionamide) dihydrochloride as an initiator. Analysis results showed that the copolymers were synthesized successfully and their LCST values were in the range of 33°C to 41°C. A selected sample of the synthesized copolymers was applied to the cotton fabric via double-bath impregnation method and thermo-responsive wetting property of the fabric was examined via wetting time and water uptake tests, contact angle measurement. The test results indicated that hydrophilic character of the fabric changed to the hydrophobic character reversibly depending on change in temperature. Besides, the fabric exhibited pH-responsive water absorption ability. The fabric could manage water vapor permeability via changing its pore size as well as hydrophilic character depending on temperature. Besides, it was concluded that the fabric had strong antibacterial activity against S.aureus bacteria.
In this study, it was aimed to develop a smart cotton fabric with temperature-sensitive wetting and water vapor permeability management functions. For this purpose, n-vinyl caprolactam (VCL) based poly(2-hydroxyethyl-6-(vinyl amino)hexanoate) (PHEVAH) polymer was synthesized by free radical addition polymerization method. The produced polymer was cross-linked onto the cotton fabrics using 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid. Before the synthesis, VCL was hydrolyzed with ethylene glycol in toluene to open its ring structure and obtain a new monomer with different functional group and molecular weight. The synthesis of the PHEVAH polymer with average molecular weight of 4000 g/mole was confirmed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Its lowest critical solution temperature (LCST) was determined at around 34°C. The surface morphology of the fabrics coated by the polymer were confirmed by SEM images. The temperature-sensitive hydrophilicity and wettability of the fabrics were determined by wetting time and water uptake tests and contact angle measurements. At temperatures above the LCST of the polymer, the hydrophilic character of the fabrics turned to hydrophobic. Their surface contact angles increased and water uptake values decreased. The vapor permeability of the fabrics treated with low concentration polymer was significantly high as compared to untreated fabric. Consequently, the fabrics was able to control water vapor permeability by changing their temperature-dependent hydrophilic/hydrophobic character and porosity resulting from swelling or shrinkage of the polymer molecules. Besides, PHEVAH polymer formed a flexible coating on the fabric surface and did not increase the bending rigidity of the fabrics.
PurposeIn this study, fabrication of polymer and cotton fabric exhibiting stimuli-responsive wetting and water vapor permeability features together with antibacterial activity was aimed.Design/methodology/approachTemperature and pH-responsive poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide-graft-chitosan) (PNIPAM-g-CS) copolymer were produced via the free radical addition polymerization method and fixed to the cotton fabric using butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) cross-linker by double-bath impregnation method. The chemical structure of the graft copolymer was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy and H-Nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) analyses. Thermo-responsive behavior of the fabric was investigated by wetting time and water uptake tests, contact angle measurement and surface energy calculation. Additionally, antibacterial activity of the fabric treated with copolymer was studied against S. aureus bacterium.FindingsPNIPAM-g-CS graft copolymer was synthesized successfully, which had lower critical solution temperature (LCST) value of 32 °C and exhibited thermo-responsive property. The treated fabrics exhibited hydrophilic character at temperatures below the LCST and hydrophobic character at temperatures above the LCST. It was found that polymer-coated fabric could have regulated the water vapor permeability by the change in its pore size and hydrophilicity depending on the temperature. Additionally, treated fabric displayed a pH-responsive water absorption behavior and strong antibacterial activity against S.aureus bacterium.Originality/valueIn the study, it has been shown that the cotton fabrics can be fabricated which have antibacterial activity and capable of pH and temperature responsive smart moisture/water management by application of copolymer. It is thought that the fabric structures developed in the study will be promising in the production of medical textile structures where antibacterial activity and thermophysiological comfort are important.
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