Self-Cleaning Polyester Fabric Prepared with TiOF₂ and Hexadecyltrimethoxysilane

In this study, self-cleaning polyester (PET) fabrics were prepared using TiOF₂ and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane(HDS) treatment. TiOF₂ was synthesized via direct fluorination of a precursor TiO₂ at various reaction temperatures. The prepared PET fabrics had superior photocatalytic self-cleaning properties compared with anatase TiO₂/HDS-treated PET fabrics under UV and sunlight with 98% decomposition of methylene blue. TiOF₂/HDS-treated PET fabrics also had superior superhydrophobic self-cleaning properties compared with anatase TiO₂/HDS-treated PET fabrics with a 161° water contact angle and 6° roll-off angle. After the self-cleaning tests of the non-dyed TiOF₂/HDS-treated PET fabrics, we prepared dyed TiOF₂/HDS-treated PET fabrics to test practical aspects of the treatment method. These PET fabrics were barely stained by tomato ketchup; even when stained, they could be self-cleaned within 4 h. These results suggest that practical self-cleaning PET fabrics with superhydrophobicity and photocatalytic degradation could be prepared using TiOF₂/HDS-treatment.