Textile Performance of Functionalized Cotton Fiber with 3-Glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane

The surface modification of cotton fiber was successfully carried out by condensation polymerization with 3-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane (GPTES) in an ethanol-water medium. The purpose was to enhance the tensile strength and softness properties of the cotton, by introducing a more flexible Si-O bond between the silane coupling agents and the cotton fiber. The moisture absorption of modified cotton fiber is lower than the raw cotton fiber. The swelling behaviour of modified cotton fiber was decreased in the polar solvents, whereas swelling increased in nonpolar solvent. The FTIR spectra showed two additional peaks at 860 cm-1 (Si-OH symmetric stretch) and 1207 cm-1 (Si-O-C bending) respectively as a function of silane absorption by the fiber surface. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with X-ray diffraction (XRD) was studied to identify the surface morphology and the structural characteristics of the raw and modified fibers respectively. The absorption of reactive brown 10 and reactive orange 14 by the modified fiber was comparatively higher than untreated cotton fiber. Color fastness of raw and modified fibers to spotting with soap washing, sunlight, acids and alkalis have been studied.