Inkjet printing and UV-LED curing of photochromic dyes for functional and smart textile applications. Issue 50 (8th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seipel, Sina; Yu, Junchun; Periyasamy, Aravin P.; Viková, Martina; Vik, Michal; Nierstrasz, Vincent A.
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 8:Issue 50(2018)
• Page Start: 28395
• Page End: 28404
• Publication Date: 2018-08-08
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c8ra05856c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Tuned performance of an inkjet-printed and UV-LED cured smart textile UV-sensor based on a photochromic dye using fabrication parameters. Abstract : Health concerns as a result of harmful UV-rays drive the development of UV-sensors of different kinds. In this research, a UV-responsive smart textile is produced by inkjet printing and UV-LED curing of a specifically designed photochromic ink on PET fabric. This paper focuses on tuning and characterizing the colour performance of a photochromic dye embedded in a UV-curable ink resin. The influence of industrial fabrication parameters on the crosslinking density of the UV-resin and hence on the colour kinetics is investigated. A lower crosslinking density of the UV-resin increases the kinetic switching speed of the photochromic dye molecules upon isomerization. By introducing an extended kinetic model, which defines rate constants k colouration, k decay and k decolouration, the colour performance of photochromic textiles can be predicted. Fabrication parameters present a flexible and fast alternative to polymer conjugation to control kinetics of photochromic dyes in a resin. In particular, industrial fabrication parameters during printing and curing of the photochromic ink are used to set the colour yield, colouration/decolouration rates and the durability, which are important characteristics towards the development of a UV-sensor for smart textile applications.