Insulating Thermal and Water-Resistant Hybrid Coating for Fabrics

Abstract

Organic–inorganic hybrid (ceramer) coatings were synthesized and deposited on the polyester nonwoven fabrics through the sol–gel process. This promoted the formation of an insulating barrier that was able to enhance the thermal stability and the hydrophobicity of fabrics. The hybrid phase is made of an organic network arising from different alkoxysilane precursors (trimethoxymethylalkoxysilane (TMEOS), 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxyalkoxysilane (APTMS), and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS)) and inorganic phase made of titanium dioxide TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and, in some cases, coated by P-based compound. The characterization of hybrid phase at liquid (size distribution and zeta potential of dispersed nanoparticles), dried state (crystalline phase, thermogravimetric (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) analyses), and on deposited coatings (contact angle, burn-out tests) aimed to find a correlation between the physicochemical properties of ceramer and functional performances of coated fabrics (thermal stability and hydrophobicity). The results showed that all ceramer formulations were able to improve the char formation after burn-out, in particular the highest thermal stability was obtained in the presence of TMEOS precursor and TiO2 NPs coated by P-based compound, which also provided the highest hydrophobicity. In conclusion, we presented an environmentally friendly and easily scalable process for the preparation of ceramer formulations capable of being formed into transparent, thermal-resistant, and hydrophobic fabric coatings, whose functions are extremely challenging for the textile market.

Preparation of Tungsten‐Based Polyvinyl Alcohol Waterborne Coating and Development of Photochromic Composite Fabric

“…[21] The common preparation methods of photochromic textile [22] materials are grafting, [23] electrospinning, and coating. [24] The disadvantages of grafting method are low grafting rate and complex processing technology. There are some problems in electrospinning process, such as large investment in special equipment, strict operating conditions such as air humidity and spinning voltage.…”

Investigation of thermal and solar properties of perlite coated woven fabrics

“…The thermal stability and hydrophobicity of fabrics were investigated. 5 Pirsa et al studied a conductive acrylic microfiber design to fabricate a portable gas sensor for the determination and analysis of some gases, such as CO 2 , CH 4 , H 2 S, and NH 3 in place. The acrylic fiber was modified by the chemical polymerization of polyaniline (PANI) and Zinc oxide (ZnO) composite.…”

Special Issue: “Advanced Hybrid Coatings and Thin Films for Surface Functionalization”

“…Two further works [8,9] show two interesting aspects of the research and innovation developments in a very promising and developing technological sector: the hybrid coatings world.…”

“…The seven papers composing the Special Issue [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] offer an interesting and wide window of the developments of functionalized hybrid coatings and thin films, from various and differentiated points of view.…”

“…The development of new polyorganosilazane-based hybrid coatings for the corrosion protection of ferrous substrates is described in the work of Fedel et al [8]. The work of Ortelli et al [9] describes an interesting development of hybrid coatings in a completely different sector, the textile one, with particular attention to the properties of thermal insulation and water resistance.…”