Abstract:
Bio-inspired and biomimetic surface modifications are identified as one of the fascinating
areas of research. In this study, nature’s way of cooling elephants’ body temperature using
mud bathing was mimicked to create moisture management in polyester fabric. For that,
bentonite nanoclay (BNC) was covalently grafted on polyester fabric using (3-aminopropyl)
triethoxysilane (APTES) as a coupling agent. The novel modification method was proved
qualitatively and quantitatively using characterization techniques such as X-ray
photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction
(XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), Xray
fluorescence (XRF) and Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). Moisture management
tests, and physical and mechanical properties of modified polyester fabric were used to
analyse the accomplishment of the modification. Hydroxyl groups on edges of BNC played a
vital role in grafting with APTES. Primary amine group in APTES reacted with ester groups
in polyester fibres, while silanols reacted with BNC. XRD analysis confirmed grafting of
APTES on the surface of BNC without intercalation. XPS and FTIR spectroscopies
confirmed the new secondary amide bond formation, while surface morphology was
observed from SEM images. The significant enhancement in wettability, absorptive capacity,
drying rate and wicking length proved moisture management property of polyester fabric.
This fabric coating strongly withstood more than 10 cycles of laundry and against 5000
abrasion cycles. Physical and mechanical properties of modified fabrics remained
unchanged, while tensile strength and elongation showed a slight improvement due to fibre
preserving aminolysis reaction between APTES and ester groups in polyester fabrics. It is
expected that this bio-inspired BNC modified polyester fabric may break the barrier of using
polyester in various hydrophilic textile applications.
