Durable easy-cleaning and antibacterial cotton fabrics using fluorine-free silane coupling agents and CuO nanoparticles

摘要

Multifunctional fabrics of high durability through a scalable and eco-friendly technique remains a great challenge hindering their commercialization.In this work,we report a facile synthesis technique for the fabrication of superhydrophobic antibacterial fabrics by employing fluorine-free silane coupling agents as cross-linkers for enhanced durability.Three silane cross-linkers,Aminoethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane(AEAPTMS),Aminopropyltriethoxysilane(APTES),and Methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane(MPTMS),have been investigated.During the fabrication,a low surface energy polymer,polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)was first deposited on cotton fabrics.Subsequently,antibacterial copper oxide(CuO)nanoparticles were anchored on the PDMS coated fabrics using the silane cross-linkers.The as-prepared fabrics displayed high superhydrophobicity and antibacterial performance with water contact angle(WCA)>153,water shedding angle(WSA)<5,and up to 99%antibacterial efficiency.Additionally,the as-prepared fabrics displayed high durability against abrasion,ultrasonic washing,and soaking in harsh chemical environments.The air permeability and flexibility of the fabric was not compromised after the coating.The above-reported technique is simple,cost-effective and holds tremendous potential for large-scale production of energy-saving clothing and healthcare products.