Fabric-like bacterial cellulose for textile applications – analysis of influences between physical and thermal dehydration on end-use performance

Abstract

AbstractWhen researching practical applications for fashion, healthcare, and others of Bacterial Cellulose (BC), dehydration of BC is currently emphasized as one of its primary limits, which reduces the material’s attractiveness in these fields. This work explored the effects of physical and thermal dehydration methods on dehydration effectiveness, rehydration, appearance, structure, and morphology. Squeezing employing the padding method results in the most effective dehydration for mass and thickness loss (97.76 ± 0.31% and 98.29 ± 0.32%, respectively), which is advantageous for productivity (roundly 108-432 times faster than freeze-drying and 105 °C convection drying). Fabric-like BC produced possesses a good appearance, oriented fiber arrangement, fabric-embossing surface, thin thickness (0.27 ± 0.06 mm), water absorbency (11.93 ± 1.09 weight times), strong bursting strength, water vapor transmission, resistance to water penetration, and proactive moisture content selection. Fabric-like BC, therefore, will uncover tremendous potential applications of textile finishing and dyeing for modification and functionalization in environment-friendly, and productive ways and make progress in BC dehydration.Keywords: physical dehydrationthermal dehydrationfabric-liketextileBacterial Cellulose AcknowledgmentsWe acknowledge Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), VNU-HCM for supporting this study. The contribution of Dr. Le Song Thanh Quynh, MSc. Tran Thi Tuong An, MSc. Pham Thi Ngoc Chau, MSc. Trinh Thi Kim Hue, Engr. Nguyen Song Huynh Nhi, Engr. Nguyen Thi Huynh Nhi, Engr. Le Thi Hong Nu is acknowledged.Author contributionsConceptualization: Hung Ngoc Phan, Huong Mai Bui; Methodology: Hung Ngoc Phan, Huong Mai Bui; Formal analysis and investigation: Hung Ngoc Phan; Writing - original draft preparation: Hung Ngoc Phan; Writing - review and editing: Hung Ngoc Phan, Huong Mai Bui, Nguyen Khanh Vu; Funding acquisition: Huong Mai Bui, Hung Ngoc Phan; Resources: Huong Mai Bui, Hung Ngoc Phan; Supervision: Huong Mai Bui, Nguyen Khanh Vu.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.