Photochromic fabrics with improved durability and photochromic performance

Abstract

Previously, we have reported a method for producing photochromic wool fabric by applying a thin layer of hybrid silica-photochromic dye onto the wool surface. While the photochromic coating showed a very fast optical response and had little influence on the fabric handle, its durability was poor. In this study, the durability of the photochromic coating layer was improved by introducing epoxy groups into the silica matrix via co-hydrolysis and co-condensation of an alkyl trialkoxysilane compound (ATAS) and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). The presence of epoxy groups in the silica enhanced both washing and abrasion durability or fastness. In addition, the optical response speed was slightly increased as well. Effects of the type of alkyl silane and the GPTMS/alkyl silane ratio on the coating durability, fabric handle and optical response were examined.

Antibacterial activity of capsaicin-coated wool fabric

“…22,23 The precursors OTES and GPTMS were used because this silane system can provide fabric with a soft handle after coating. Once coated, a transparent and well-attached silica coating layer was formed on the wool fabric.…”

Industrial organic photochromic dyes

“…A different approach for imparting photochromic detail to garments is to use mass‐coloured thread, such as poly(propylene) melt‐spun with photochromic dye. Application of a commercial spirooxazine derivative to wool fibre by means of a silica‐based sol‐gel coating process has recently been demonstrated to give a photochromic effect [71]. However, it appears that, if the application of extant industrial colorant types to fabrics by conventional dyeing techniques is ever to become commercially viable, then tailoring of dye structure and/or coloration process design will be necessary to give cost‐efficient, durable effects of acceptable intensities and kinetics.…”

Fabrication and Characterization of Photochromic Spirooxazine/Polyvinylidene Fluoride Fiber Membranes via Electrospinning

“…In recent years, photochromic materials have been widely applied in protective ophthalmic lenses, security printing, optical memory and switching, solar energy storage and electrophoretic displays [1,2] because they can change from colorless to colorful when exposed to UV light but can become colorless again after the UV light is removed [2][3][4][5]. Among photochromic materials, spirooxazines have received considerable attention due to their intense photocoloration [6][7][8], fatigue resistance and ease of synthesis [9][10][11].…”