Nano Fabric Coatings

Nano Fabric Coatings List

The introduction of advanced nanomaterials, especially nano fabric coatings, can greatly improve the performances of fabrics and increase the benefits of enterprises. As a new type nano material, nano fabric coatings are generally used in textile processing technology, which has been greatly developed in recent years. When nano fabric coatings are used, the appearance and style of the fabric can be changed. In addition, by using nano fabric coatings, new functions can be added into fabric, including waterproof, moisture permeable, antifouling, flame retardant and the others, which can broaden the application fields and improve the added value of the fabrics.

Applications:

• Electromagnetic shielding field: With the development of science and technology, the electromagnetic wave has not only brought qualitative flight to human life, but also caused harm to human beings. The electromagnetic shielding fabric can be prepared by using nano fabric coatings. With the advantages of light weight, thin thickness, wide wave absorbing bandwidth, strong absorbing ability and avoiding secondary environmental pollution, electromagnetic shielding nano fabric coatings receive more and more attentions.
• Clothes field: With the improvement of living standards, people have higher and higher requirements on the quality of clothes, and the performance of fabrics also needs to be improved. Fabrics need to perform specific functions under many special conditions while still retaining their original comfort. For example, the waterproof fabric can be obtained by nano fabric coatings. Due to the good performance and physiological comfort, waterproof fabric is favored by consumers and has a broad market application prospect. Waterproof fabric can be used for windbreaker, cotton suit, medical breathable surgical film and the others.
• Sensors field: With the advantages of high conductivity, good thermal stability and excellent mechanical properties, some nano fabric coatings can be used to design sensors. For example, when fabric is coated by polypyrrole nano fabric coatings, it can be applied to make strain sensors.
• The others: Nano fabric coatings have many other applications, including self-cleaning materials field, supercapacitors field, bio-antibacterial material field and the others.

Figure 1. An example of nano fabric coatings applied as a bio-antibacterial material.

Classification:

According to the composition, nano fabric coatings can be divided into the following categories.

• Polyurethane nano fabric coating: Polyurethane nano fabric coating is an important kind nano fabric coating. However, appropriate modification of polyurethane emulsion is needed to expand its application scope. The main modification approaches include improving monomer and synthesis process, adding additives, implementing crosslinking, optimizing compound and the others.
• Polypyrrole/carbon nanotubes nano fabric coating: Polypyrrole/carbon nanotubes nano fabric coating is one of the most important nano fabric coatings. Polypyrrole has both the electrical conductivity of metal and the processing of polymer materials, and it has the advantages of light weight, good toughness, adjustable electrical conductivity. Due to the typical one-dimensional structure and good electrical properties, carbon nanotubes are widely used. Nano fabric coating made by polypyrrole and carbon nanotubes can be used to create many functional fabrics.

Figure 2. An example of polypyrrole/carbon nanotubes nano fabric coating.

• The other: There are many other kinds of nano fabric coatings including silicone nano fabric coatings, polypyrrole nano fabric coating and the others. Among them, silicone nano fabric coatings are favored by many people because of the excellent water repellency, heat resistance, climate resistance, mechanical properties and non-toxicity.

References

1. Ramirez D O S, Varesano A, Carletto R A, et al. Antibacterial properties of polypyrrole-treated fabrics by ultrasound deposition[J]. Materials Science & Engineering, 2019, 102(SEP.):164-170.
2. Huang S, Chen P, Lin W, et al. Electrodeposition of polypyrrole on carbon nanotube-coated cotton fabrics for all-solid flexible supercapacitor electrodes[J]. Rsc Advances, 2016, 6(16):13359-13364.