New superhydrophobic and self-cleaning zirconia/polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposite coated cotton fabrics. (18th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eduok, Ubong
• Is Part Of: New journal of chemistry. Volume 45:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 638
• Page End: 650
• Publication Date: 2020-12-18
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chimie -- Périodiques; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/d0nj04848h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1144-0546

Abstract

Abstract : Zirconia/polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposite coated fabric demonstrates unique stability with tendencies toward self-cleaning and oil–water separations due to its nanopatterned morphologies and adhering superhydrophobic polysiloxane chemical groups. Abstract : In this study, coated cotton fabrics were fabricated from modified zirconia nanoparticles (mZrO2 NPs) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). To study the stability, self-cleaning and oil–water separation properties of coated fabrics as superhydrophobic substrates, variants of this coating were also synthesized by varying the concentrations of mZrO2 NPs and PDMS contents. The present study reports a new nonfluorinated fabrication route for preparing modified zirconia/PDMS nanocomposite coated fabrics for durable multifunctional applications, including reduced wetting, self-cleaning and oil–water separation. Their surface properties and tendencies toward these multifunctional applications are ascribed to their nanopatterned surface morphologies, nanoporous roughness and low surface energy methyl-bound polysiloxane chemical groups on the cotton fabrics. Experimental results reveal consistent influence of PDMS and mZrO2 NPs contents on surface wettability up to optimal concentrations. The coated fabrics in this study demonstrated significant superhydrophobicity at values of static aqueous contact more than 150° and sliding hysteresis angle less than 5°. The coated fabric with the optimal performance also exhibited significant resistance against chemical and thermal oxidation resistance. It also retained a separation efficiency over 91% for chloroform–water and toluene–water mixtures.