Self-Cleaning Polyester Fabric Prepared with TiOF₂ and Hexadecyltrimethoxysilane

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• Polyester (PET) fabrics often require treatments to impart self-cleaning functionalities.
• Existing methods using titanium dioxide (TiO2) have limitations in achieving both photocatalytic and superhydrophobic properties simultaneously.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel self-cleaning polyester fabrics using TiOF2 and HDS treatment.
• To evaluate the photocatalytic and superhydrophobic performance of the treated fabrics.
• To assess the practical applicability of the self-cleaning treatment on dyed fabrics.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of TiOF2 via direct fluorination of TiO2 at varying temperatures.
• Treatment of PET fabrics with synthesized TiOF2 and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDS).
• Evaluation of photocatalytic activity via methylene blue decomposition under UV and sunlight.
• Assessment of superhydrophobic properties using water contact angle and roll-off angle measurements.
• Testing stain resistance and self-cleaning capabilities on dyed fabrics with tomato ketchup.

Main Results:

• TiOF2/HDS-treated PET fabrics demonstrated superior photocatalytic self-cleaning, achieving 98% methylene blue decomposition.
• The treated fabrics exhibited enhanced superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 161° and a roll-off angle of 6°.
• Dyed TiOF2/HDS-treated PET fabrics showed significant resistance to staining (e.g., tomato ketchup) and could self-clean within 4 hours.

Conclusions:

• TiOF2/HDS treatment provides a viable method for creating self-cleaning PET fabrics with combined photocatalytic and superhydrophobic properties.
• The developed treatment offers practical advantages, including effective stain removal and durability for textile applications.
• This approach paves the way for advanced functional textiles with improved performance and longevity.