Reversibly Superwettable Polyester Fabric Based on pH-Responsive Branched Polymer Nanoparticles

Abstract

A responsive function is significant to surfaces with special wettability, especially for breaking through their limitations in practical applications. We report a novel strategy, which is effective, scalable, versatile, and low-cost, to produce the pH-responsive superwettable surface by combining the pH-responsive branched polymer nanoparticles (PRBNs) and conventional textile materials. The PRBN exhibiting a spherical shape with strawberry-like rough surface is able to swell (diameter of 71 nm) in an acidic aqueous solution and shrink to its original size (diameter of 42 nm) in a neutral or basic aqueous solution; moreover, the swelling–shrinking transition is reversible. The deposition of PRBNs on polyester fabric provides the surface pH-responsive wettability that is superhydrophobic to a neutral or basic aqueous solution (pH ≥ 7) with a contact angle above 150° and superhydrophilic to an acidic aqueous solution (pH 1) with a contact angle of 0°. Similar to the pH-responsive behavior of nanoparticles, this superhydrophobic–supehydrophilic transition of fabric is also reversible. By adjusting the hydrophobic substituents of PRBN, the wettability of fabric has remarkable changes. The adhesion of PRBNs onto polyester fabric can be obviously enhanced by the heating-press procedure so that its washability improves. These results may provide a new horizon to design new-generation smart textiles via utilizing controllable wettability.

A Fluoride‐Free and Super‐Wetting Functionalized‐Material with pH‐Responsiveness for Controllable Separation of Multiphase Oil/Water Mixtures

“…Compared with traditional single surface wettability oil/water separation materials, the smart membrane is a candidate material which can selectively separate the required liquid from the related oil/water mixtures. [20,33] Therefore, pH-responsive intelligent materials with adjustable wettability are expected to be widely used. In view of this, the prepared pH-controlled fabric was used to separate binary oil/water mixtures, as shown in Figure 7.…”

“…pH-triggered wettability is favored by researchers for their quick response, simple operation, and without complex equipment. [32,33] Previous studies have displayed that weak polybase and polyacid, such as dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), 2-vinylpyridine (VPy), methacrylic acid (MAA), and other constituents containing amine or carboxyl groups, can rapidly protonate and deprotonate at various pH additions. [34,35] They are endowed with priority to achieve pH-triggered switchable wettability surface.…”

Bioinspired Bola Polysiloxane for Wettability, Breathability, and Softness in Fabrics

“…The global volume of fiber production used in textile manufacturing reached 110 million metric tonnes in 2018, making clothing and textiles the fourth largest industry in the world . The amount of fabric softeners is increasing due to their capability of reducing fabric roughness and fiber entanglement. − Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) had become the most widely used finishing agent because of its unique Si–O helical molecular structure, , which can wind on the fabric surface, making it easy to form a soft film. − Unfortunately, contrary to the Si–O structure, the H atoms on the two methyl groups connected to the Si atoms are staggered due to the atomic repulsion force. − Therefore, the O atoms cannot form hydrogen bonds with the H atoms of water molecules, resulting in strong hydrophobicity, thus leaving humans feeling hot and sticky. Therefore, personal comfort is difficult to satisfy. − …”

Luminescent hybrid coatings prepared by a sol–gel process for a textile-based pH sensor

“…34 An example of a textile pH-sensor is the use of branched polymer nanoparticles applied on a polyester conventional textile material by immersing-drying processes. 35 Moreover, the applications of pH-indicator dyes on cotton and nylon were achieved by standard dyeing processes for cotton, and by the electro-spinning process for nylon. 36 Additionally, pH-sensitive polymers based on [poly(acrylic acid)] and [poly(2-vinyl pyridine)] were grafted onto polyester yarns with an epoxide-containing polymer.…”