Fibers and Polymers最新文献

In this study, composite sheets with enhanced tensile properties and thermal stability were fabricated by combining aramid and chloroprene rubber to explore their synergistic effects. Aramid materials, well known for their heat resistance, chemical stability, dimensional stability, and mechanical durability, were selected in two structural forms: Technora®-based aramid nanofibers and nonwoven fabrics. These materials offer high-strength-to-weight ratios and excellent thermal endurance, making them suitable for high-performance composite reinforcement. To enhance compatibility with the rubber matrix and promote interfacial bonding, the aramid surfaces were modified by coating them with zinc oxide nanoparticles through a simple surface treatment process. Chloroprene rubber, prepared in both solid-chip and molten forms, was used as the matrix for composites reinforced with short fibers and nonwoven fiber fabrics. The tensile strength of a sheet composite made from chip-shaped rubber and ZnO-modified copolymerized aramid nanofibers increased from 9.8 MPa (cross-linked chloroprene rubber) to 13.36 MPa. Moreover, the tensile strength of composite sheets fabricated from rubber melts and ZnO-modified copolymerized aramid nonwoven fabrics improved from 30.4 MPa (unmodified copolymerized aramid nonwoven fabric) to 48.1 MPa. Thermogravimetric analysis confirmed excellent thermal stability, with 75.4% residual weight retained at 500 °C, indicating that the composite structure was thermally robust and resistant to decomposition under elevated temperatures.

Polyester (PET)-based fabrics have been greatly required with the development of industrial automation, especially as a kind of high-strength conveyor belts. Meanwhile, it is better for PET fabrics to melt and break when subjected to long-term high-temperature use without causing spontaneous combustion, thus ensuring its safety. Herein, to investigate the high-temperature melting and breaking properties of modified PET fabrics, PET fabrics were impregnated with resorcinol–formaldehyde-neoprene latex (RF-CRL) by a simple dip-coating method and RF-CRL/PET composites were correspondingly prepared. The effect of aging time and aging temperature on the tensile properties of RF-CRL/PET composites were studied. Simultaneously, limiting oxygen index (LOI) and thermal stabilities of the modified PET fabrics were revealed. The results showed that the RF-CRL/PET composite possessed excellent high-temperature melting and breaking properties. Before 190 ℃, RF-CRL/PET composite showed excellent tensile properties at different aging time of 10 min, 20 min and 30 min. Above 200 ℃, the tensile fracture force of the composite decreased obviously especially at 220 ℃ when aged for 30 min, which showed that the prepared RF-CRL/PET exhibited excellent melting and breaking feature. Meanwhile, LOI of aged RF-CRL/PET composite was 22.5 and no melting droplet was observed compared to pure PET fabric, which was beneficial for the melting and breaking of modified PET fabrics during practical use, and no further danger would be caused. Moreover, RF-CRL/PET composite showed excellent thermal stabilities after aging. This work offers a valuable reference to endow PET fabrics with both excellent melting and breaking properties during long-time service.

Hydrophobic/oleophilic nanofiber aerogels (NFAs) are ideal materials for remediation of oil spills. However, their application for removal of viscous crude oil remains a big challenge. Herein, an all-weather-available NFA, with outstanding photo-magneto-thermal conversion capacities for efficient recovery of high-viscosity oils, was developed via a facile strategy of assembling Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) along the PAN/PBA NFA skeleton. Benefiting from its hierarchical porous structure, excellent hydrophobicity, and high mechanical stability, the resultant PDMS–Fe₃O₄@PAN/PBA NFA showed high oil absorption capacities and reusability for various low-viscosity oils/organic solvents. Taking advantage of the photo-magneto-thermal conversion of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, the temperature of composite NFA surface could rapidly reach up to 84.2 °C under solar illumination of 1 kW m⁻² and 89.4 °C under the influence of an alternating magnetic field of 7 kA m⁻¹. Noteworthily, PDMS–Fe₃O₄@PAN/PBA NFA could continuously clean up crude oil with the assistance of pumping force, achieving a high recovery rate of 6.51*10³ kg m⁻³ h⁻¹ under the synergistic effect of photo-magnetic heating. Considering their facile method of preparation and excellent comprehensive properties, the composite NFAs have great prospects for remediation of crude oil spills.

The development of hazardous fields such as petroleum miners urgently needs fabrics with high visibility and fire safety performance, but at the same time it is challenging. Here, we introduced liquid metal/polymerizable deep eutectic solvent system, fluorescent material and flame retardant into carboxymethylcellulose system, and prepared a flame-retardant fluorescent gel fabric (CP@Sr/F-A-NF) by cross-linking polymerization in aqueous solution. Due to the gel fabric loaded with the flame retardant ammonium polyphosphate, CP@Sr/F-A-NF demonstrated good flame retardancy and could rapidly self-extinguish after leaving the flame. More importantly, the fluorescent material is uniformly distributed on the gel with a large surface area, which endows CP@Sr/F-A-NF with high visibility, and achieves the purpose of warning and being easily detected in dangerous situations, which provides safety protection and rescue time for the personnel working in special environments. This work provides a new approach and insights for the preparation of the next generation of protective clothing for personnel working in hazardous environments.

The aim of this study is to develop the printing process of 100% cotton woven fabrics with three spices without using synthetic dyestuffs and to produce fabrics with sustainable qualities. To achieve this, turmeric, red chilli, and cinnamon were used as natural dyestuffs. Rotary printing technique was employed by the application of three different crosslinkers without the use of metal mordants. To analyze the performance and color fastness of the printed fabrics, the samples were washed for 20 cycles and evaluated. The morphology and chemical composition of the fabrics were investigated by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and ATR-FTIR (attenuated total reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy, respectively. Finally, fastness properties against washing, perspiration, water, rubbing, and light as well as tear strength, pilling, and color strength values of the fabrics were analyzed in accordance with the relevant standards. The results of this study showed that cinnamon-printed fabrics, particularly with TANA® Link PCI crosslinker, exhibited superior overall fastness properties and color stability after 20 washing cycles. While turmeric initially provided vibrant color, it showed significant color change after washing, especially with Bilprint FIX NFP. ASUFIX E-CP crosslinker generally offered good tear strength and abrasion resistance retention for all spices. SEM analysis confirmed good adhesion of the print paste even after washing, though ATR-FTIR showed no significant chemical changes to the cotton. As a result, in this study, 100% cotton woven fabrics colored with turmeric, red chilli, and cinnamon, which are resistant to 20 washings, were produced.

This study introduces a two-step method that combines protease treatment with glutaraldehyde crosslinking. This approach significantly enhances the anti-felting properties of wool fibers while effectively preserving their mechanical strength. Through systematic optimization, protease treatment significantly enhanced anti-felting properties, evidenced by a 36.32% increase in felt ball volume. Although this led to a 21.52% loss in tensile strength, glutaraldehyde crosslinking effectively repaired the damage, resulting in a 46.59% enhancement‌ of breaking strength. The treated samples exhibited excellent washing durability. Scanning electron microscopy characterization confirmed substantial scale removal in protease-treated wool fibers (PWF) while maintaining morphological consistency between PWF and glutaraldehyde crosslinking wool fibers (GPWF). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed comparable spectral profiles across samples, with a notable attenuation of amide II band intensities in both PWF and GPWF. X-ray diffraction showed that the crystallinity of PWF increased from 28.78 to 30.59%, while the crystallinity of GPWF decreased to 24.13%. TGA indicated that both protease treatment and glutaraldehyde crosslinking had no significant effect on the inherent thermal stability of wool fibers. Protease treatment (PWF) markedly increased the hydrophilicity of wool fibers, and the water absorption capacity of GPWF was between untreated raw wool fiber (UWF) and PWF. This synergistic approach balances excellent anti-felting performance with preserved mechanical integrity. It thus offers a robust and efficient strategy for the sustainable processing of high-quality wool textiles and broadens the material’s application prospects.

Graphical Abstract

Fibrous networks can be found in both natural and artificial systems. This study puts forward an efficient and accurate numerical method which is useful to model fibrous networks in three-dimensional (3D) space. Mathematical modelling of fibres presents a solid way to show the fibre paths. This research focuses on mathematical modelling of fibres in the random fibrous networks called nonwovens as they are one of the most challenging form of fibrous networks to model due to their complex and random microstructure. Reconstructed 3D images of random fibrous structures acquired with X-ray micro-CT system allowed to model them mathematically in the 3D voxel domain. Fibrous structures were modelled with control points using Bezier polynomial functions, which are useful to interpret the geometry of the fibrous networks in 3D. For more accuracy, fibres were modelled from one intersection point to another. Benefits of developing mathematical models of these random fibrous structures were discussed.

This study investigates the use of copper nitride (Cu₃N) thin films as a hydrophobic coating for acrylic textiles, offering a safer and more sustainable alternative to conventional fluorocarbon-based treatments. Copper nitride is a non-toxic, abundant, and cost-effective semiconductor material with tunable properties, yet its application in textiles remains largely unexplored. In this work, Cu₃N coatings were deposited on acrylic fabric using reactive sputtering at room temperature, 50W of power and 3.5 Pa of working pressure, under two different gas atmospheres: pure nitrogen (N₂) and a nitrogen-argon (N₂ + Ar) mixture. Deposition times were varied at 60, 90, and 120 min to evaluate the influence of process duration on hydrophobic performance. Hydrophobicity was assessed by measuring the water contact angle on coated samples, both in their initial state and after mechanical stress tests including washing and folding. The results demonstrated strong hydrophobic behavior across all samples, with contact angles ranging from 96.30° to 113.68°. Notably, coatings deposited under N₂ + Ar showed slightly enhanced performance and durability compared to those deposited under pure N₂. The entire process was conducted at room temperature and generated no chemical waste, highlighting its environmental advantages. These findings suggest that copper nitride coatings can effectively impart hydrophobicity to textiles without relying on harmful fluorinated compounds. The combination of performance, safety, and sustainability positions Cu₃N as a promising candidate for future textile finishing technologies.

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) served as the raw material for fabricating nanofiber membranes via electrospinning. PVA was modified by incorporating urushiol (UR) extracted from lacquer trees. Urushiol is rich in polyphenolic hydroxyl groups (–OH), which exhibit strong chelating affinity for heavy metals. The hydroxyl groups on the PVA molecular chain provide additional adsorption sites, synergistically enhancing metal ion capture efficiency alongside urushiol. This modification also reduces the water solubility of PVA and improves its chemical resistance. In addition, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) was introduced as an additive, increasing the tensile strength of the PVA nanofiber membrane by 6.8 times. Beyond offering basic adsorption sites, HPC facilitates metal ion capture through hydrogen bonding and weak coordination. The enhanced mechanical properties enable the detachment of adsorbed heavy metals via centrifugation and ultrasonication, allowing cyclic reuse of the membrane. The PVA/HPC/Urushiol nanofiber membrane demonstrated an adsorption efficiency exceeding 97% for Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Cd²⁺ (commonly found in printed circuit board wastewater) during the initial use at pH values of 6.5 and 3. The average adsorption efficiency remained above 85% after two reuse cycles.

Mosquito-transmitted illnesses, such as dengue, chikungunya, and malaria, pose a great threat and curse to human lives in this modern globalized world. Mosquito-repellent textile, a part of protective clothing made from natural plant sources, is a good alternative to chemical repellents and is an environmentally friendly solution. This study focused on developing and analyzing the properties of a sustainable mosquito-repellent finished cellulosic linen fabric using alcoholic peppermint, cinnamon, garlic extract (PCGE), and mango bark mordant. Extracted solutions in different concentration percentages (10, 20, and 30) were applied to the fabric by exhaustion dyeing following a post-mordanting process. Following a modified cage test, the highest 89.33% and 98.68%, and lowest 85.36% and 94.68% repellency were found for samples A and C, respectively. Also, the highest mortality rate for sample C was found at 80% after 24 h of the experiment. The finished fabrics retained a significant mosquito mortality rate (65%) even after 7 washing cycles. following the WHO (World Health Organization) cone bioassay test. In addition, a comprehensive evaluation of wash durability, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), extracted solutions absorbance, ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), physical and color fastness properties, allergic reaction, and shelf-life was performed. This study presents a novel approach of combining multiple natural plant-sourced ingredients that repel mosquitoes with durability, provide ultraviolet (UV) protection, and are non-allergenic. The goal of this study follows the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 (Sustainable Production) and 13 (Climate Action), by developing an applicable and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic chemical-based repellents.