Formulating 3-Chloropropyltriethoxysilane Modified Silica Nanoparticle Sprays as Hydrophobic Transparent Coatings onto Cotton Textiles

• Main Authors: Mendoza, Mikaela C. S., Yu, Gilbert U
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2021
• Subjects: hydrophobicity; silica nanoparticles; textiles; Chemistry; Fiber, Textile, and Weaving Arts; Materials Chemistry
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/chemistry-faculty-pubs/183; https://archium.ateneo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1172&context=chemistry-faculty-pubs
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

Cotton textiles were transformed into hydrophobic fabrics via the application of 3-chloropropylthriethoxysilane-functionalized silica nanoparticle spray coatings. Silica particles were measured to be < 50 nm, as determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The incorporation of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB), a surfactant, into the nanosilica alcohol-based sprays resulted in a suspension that was stable for at least a week. Stability and turbidity tests of samples point to smaller particle size (silica nanoparticles = 24.3 ± 8.5 nm) as the main contributor to possibly providing transparency, as evidenced when sprayed in colored (black) textiles, while still contributing to hydrophobicity/ superhydrophobicity of the cloth.