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Multifunctional textile based on titanium xerogel: performance optimization through composition and microstructure

  • Original Paper: Nano- and macroporous materials (aerogels, xerogels, cryogels, etc.)
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Abstract

Titanate xerogels have attracted increasing attention due to their extraordinary properties such as thermal conductivity, fire resistance, hydrophobicity and low density. This work focuses on the development of a new multifunctional textile, based on xerogel as filler for cotton fabric for applications in technical textiles. The microstructure was determined in each material using SEM observations, detection of different chemical bonds using FT-IR and XDR techniques. Thermal properties were evaluated by TGA, DSC and thermal conductivity measurements. The results show that the treated fabrics are hydrophobic with contact angles greater than 90°, the final contact angle varies with the drying temperature of the treated fabrics and reaches a maximum value of 127.50 ± 5°. The thermal results showed all the developed samples present an excellent insulation performance with conductivity coefficients between 0.035 and 0.04 W/m.K. which values are highly acceptable for applications in technical textiles. It is interesting to note that the treated fabrics present an average post-flame time compared to the raw fabric and significantly lower compared to the PA coating. The mass loss ranged from 40.8 to 51.1%, showing the effectiveness of xerogel as a filler for polyacrylate resin contributing to the flame-retardant synergy. Consequently, the deposition of a titanate xerogel coating creates a multifunctional textile with great promise for smart clothing and personal heating applications.

Graphical Abstract

Titanate xerogels have attracted increasing attention due to their extraordinary properties such as thermal conductivity, fire resistance, hydrophobicity and low density. This work focuses on the development of a new multifunctional textile, based on xerogel as filler for cotton fabric for applications in technical textiles. The microstructure was determined in each material using SEM observations, detection of different chemical bonds using FT-IR and XDR techniques. Thermal properties were evaluated by TGA, DSC and thermal conductivity measurements. The results show that the treated fabrics are hydrophobic with contact angles greater than 90°, the final contact angle varies with the drying temperature of the treated fabrics and reaches a maximum value of 127.50 ± 5°. The thermal results showed all the developed samples present an excellent insulation performance with conductivity coefficients between 0.035 and 0.04 W/m.K. which values are highly acceptable for applications in technical textiles. It is interesting to note that the treated fabrics present an average post-flame time compared to the raw fabric and significantly lower compared to the PA coating. The mass loss ranged from 40.8 to 51.1%, showing the effectiveness of xerogel as a filler for polyacrylate resin contributing to the flame-retardant synergy. Consequently, the deposition of a titanate xerogel coating creates a multifunctional textile with great promise for smart clothing and personal heating applications.

Highlights

  • The optimization of the synthesis conditions of xerogel leads to an improved xerogel-coated textile performance.

  • The synthesized xerogel’s porosity is relatively homogeneous, with a visible pore size between 3 and 30 μm.

  • Xerogel-coated textiles exhibit enhanced hydrophobicity, resulting in a higher surface energy.

  • The thermal stability of xerogel-treated fabrics was improved, as indicated by a thermal conductivity coefficient ranging from 0.041 to 0.035 W.m−1.k−1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Materials and Catalyst (LCPMC), Faculty of Sciences Ben M’Sik—HASSAN II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco

    Mohamed Assal, Mohamed El Wazna, Ouahiba Mrajji & Abdeslam El Bouari

  2. Laboratory Textile Materials Research (REMTEX), Higher School of Textile and clothing Industries, Casablanca, Morocco

    Mohamed Assal, Mohamed El Wazna, Khadija Oumghar, Ouahiba Mrajji, Mehdi El Bouchti & Omar Cherkaoui

  3. Laboratory of Physics of Condensed Matter (LPMC), Faculty of Sciences Ben M’Sik, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco

    Khadija Oumghar

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  1. Mohamed Assal
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Assal, M., El Wazna, M., Oumghar, K. et al. Multifunctional textile based on titanium xerogel: performance optimization through composition and microstructure. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 106, 672–683 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06102-0

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