Franco Ferrero

Wettability measurements on plasma treated synthetic fabrics by capillary rise method

The capillary rise method was applied to evaluate the improvement in water uptake of polyester and acrylic fabrics obtained by plasma treatment. Power, exposure time and gas type (nitrogen, air and oxygen) were considered as plasma variables. After plasma treatment, fabric samples were tested through capillary rise of water. The processing of a set of height absorption values vs. time, until equilibrium is reached, allows characterisation of the wettability of samples by three parameters. The influence of plasma variables on these parameters was studied.

Study on Cast Membranes and Electrospun Nanofibers Made from Keratin/Fibroin Blends

Keratin regenerated from wool and fibroin regenerated from silk were mixed in different proportions using formic acid as the common solvent. Both solutions were cast to obtain films and electrospun to produce nanofibers. Scanning electron microscopy investigation showed that, for all electrospun blends (except for 100% keratin where bead defects are present), the fiber diameter of the mats ranged from 900 (pure fibroin) to 160 nm (pure keratin). FTIR and DSC analysis showed that the secondary structure of the proteins was influenced by the blend ratios and the process used (casting or electrospinning). Prevalence of beta-sheet supramolecular structures was observed in the films, while proteins assembled in alpha-helix/random coil structures were observed in nanofibers. Higher solution viscosity, thinner filaments, and differences in the thermal and structural properties were observed for the 50/50 blend because of the enhanced interactions between the proteins.

Properties of polymeric films obtained from u.v. cured poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylates

Abstract The properties of u.v. cured poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylates (PEGDA) having MWs in the range 200–2000 and acrylic functionality near to two were evaluated. First, the properties of pure PEGDA oligomers, subjected to u.v. curing, were considered. Then, mixtures of different PEGDA oligomers with a typical epoxy acrylate resin were prepared and investigated. The double-bond conversion during the curing process was determined by FT i.r. analysis. D.s.c., t.m.a. and d.m.t.a. were used to evaluate the thermal and dynamic-mechanical behaviour of the networks obtained. As far as the pure PEGDA oligomers are concerned, the final double-bond conversion was always found to be complete, with the exception of the lowest MW oligomers. By using oligomers having MWs up to 1000, after the u.v. curing process, films having a completely amorphous structure were obtained. Oligomers having MWs higher than 1000 show, after curing, a partial PEG crystallinity. The T g values of amorphous films were found to decrease by increasing the MW of the oligomer, i.e. by decreasing the crosslinking density of the network. Good agreement with the Nielsen equation was observed. The equilibrium swelling values in water were found to increase by increasing the oligomer MW. The investigation of mixtures of PEGDA oligomers with a typical epoxy acrylate resin confirms the above reported results as far as the double-bond conversion, the thermal and the dynamic-mechanical behaviour are concerned. By changing the oligomer MW it is possible to change the properties of the u.v. cured films over a broad range.

Ultrasound for low temperature dyeing of wool with acid dye

The possibility of reducing the temperature of conventional wool dyeing with an acid levelling dye using ultrasound was studied in order to reach exhaustion values comparable to those obtained with the standard procedure at 98 °C, obtaining dyed samples of good quality. The aim was to develop a laboratory method that could be transferred at industrial level, reducing both the energy consumption and fiber damage caused by the prolonged exposure to high temperature without the use of polluting auxiliary agents. Dyeings of wool fabrics were carried out in the temperature range between 60 °C and 80 °C using either mechanical or ultrasound agitation of the bath and coupling the two methods to compare the results. For each dyeing, the exhaustion curves of the dye bath were determined and the better results of dyeing kinetics were obtained with ultrasound coupled with mechanical stirring. Hence the corresponding half dyeing times, absorption rate constants according to Cegarra-Puente modified equation and ultrasonic efficiency were calculated in comparison with mechanical stirring alone. In the presence of ultrasound the absorption rate constants increased by at least 50%, at each temperature, confirming the synergic effect of sonication on the dyeing kinetics. Moreover the apparent activation energies were also evaluated and the positive effect of ultrasound was ascribed to the pre-exponential factor of the Arrhenius equation. It was also shown that the effect of ultrasound at 60 °C was just on the dye bath, practically unaffecting the wool fiber surface, as confirmed by the results of SEM analysis. Finally, fastness tests to rubbing and domestic laundering yielded good values for samples dyed in ultrasound assisted process even at the lower temperature. These results suggest the possibility, thanks to the use of ultrasound, to obtain a well equalized dyeing on wool working yet at 60°C, a temperature process strongly lower than 98°C, currently used in industry, which damages the mechanical properties of the fibers.

Hydrorepellent finishing of cotton fabrics by chemically modified TEOS based nanosol

Hydrorepellency was conferred to cotton fabrics by an hybrid organic-inorganic finishing via sol-gel. The nanosol was prepared by co-hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-fluorooctyltriethoxysilane (FOS), or hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (C16), as precursors in weakly acid medium. The application on cotton was carried out by padding with various impregnation times, followed by drying and thermal treatment, varying the FOS add-on from 5 till 30 % on fabric weight or C16 add-on from 5 to 10 %. Treated samples were tested in terms of contact angles, drop absorption times, washing fastness and characterized by SEM, XPS and FTIR-ATR analyses. In the case of FOS modified nanosol applied with an impregnation time of 24 h or C16 modified nanosol, water contact angles values very close or even higher than 150° were measured, typical of a superhydrophobic surface. The application of the proposed sol-gel process yielded also a satisfactory treatment fastness to domestic washing, in particular for FOS modified nanosol.

Synthesis of poly(propylene-glycol-diacrylates) and properties of the photocured networks

A series of poly(propylene-glycol-diacrylates) (PPGDA) having molecular weights (MW) in the range 300–3,000 and an acrylic functionality near to two were synthesized by acrylation of the corresponding hydroxy-terminated oligomers with acrylic acid in the presence of p-toluensulphonic acid as a catalyst. The M¯n of the acrylated products was found slightly lower than that of the starting oligomers, indicating the occurrence of an acidic degradation reaction which does not influence the acrylic functionality. The acrylated oligomers were ultraviolet (UV) cured until a complete double bond disappearance was obtained: only in the presence of tripropylene-glycol-diacrylate (TPGDA) were small amounts of residual unsaturations revealed. Rubbery materials were usually obtained, with the exception of TPGDA. The properties of the cured PPGDA were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry, thermomechanical analysis, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The Tg values were found to decrease by increasing the MW of the used oligomers, that is, by increasing the length of the chain between the two acrylic double bonds. A good agreement with the Nielsen equation was found. Moreover, the equilibrium swelling values in water were measured; the obtained values were interpreted in terms of the solubility parameters of the oligomers and of the crosslinking density of the networks. Finally, some mixtures of PPGDA oligomers with a typical epoxy-acrylate resin were UV cured; their properties confirm the high flexibilizing effect of the PPGDA oligomers.

Adsorption of chromate and cupric ions onto chitosan-coated cotton gauze.

A chitosan-coated cotton gauze was prepared by UV-curing and tested as adsorbent to remove copper (II) and chromium (VI) ions from water solutions. The adsorbent characterization was carried out by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR). Adsorption of copper and chromium ions onto the gauze was tested in batch process at different experimental conditions. The effects of pH, temperature, contact time and metal ion concentration were investigated. The optimum adsorption took place at pH 3 for Cr(VI) and pH 5 for Cu(II) ions respectively, while the temperature did not affect the adsorption process. Pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models were used to investigate the adsorption kinetics which was found very fast and better described by the pseudo-second order model for both metal ions. The adsorption of Cr(VI) ions was satisfactory described by the Langmuir isotherm, while that of Cu(II) ions showed a better agreement with the Freundlich model.

Water and oil-repellent coatings of perfluoro-polyacrylate resins on cotton fibers: UV curing in comparison with thermal polymerization

UV curing of perfluoro-alkyl-polyacrylate resins able to impart water as well as oil-repellency to cotton fabrics was studied in comparison with conventional thermal polymerization. The process was assessed through weight gain and gel content measurements while the properties conferred to cotton fabrics were determined in terms of water and oil contact angles, moisture adsorption, and water vapor permeability. The polymerization yields were of the same order (>80 %) of those obtained with thermal curing as well as the high contact angles with water (>127°) and oil (>118°) even at low resin add-on (3 %). UV cured resins yielded oil contact angles mostly higher than 120° denoting super oil-repellent surfaces. Moreover the water and oil-repellency was adequately maintained after washing. The moisture adsorption of finished fabrics was lower than that of untreated cotton, but slightly higher for UV cured than thermally treated fabrics. Water vapor transmission rate showed that the finish treatment, thermal as well as by UV curing, does not reduce the breathability of the original cotton. DSC analysis demonstrated that the fiber pyrolysis is affected by the polymer add-on, while FTIR-ATR spectra of all finished fabrics showed typical peaks of ester and C-F groups. XPS analysis showed small differences between thermal and UV curing coatings with each resin, while coatings with the lowest percentage of fluorine groups did not affect the water and oil-repellency.

FT-IR study of dopant-wool interactions during PPy deposition

Coating the fibre surface byin situ oxidative chemical polymerisation of polypyrrole (using FeCl3 as oxidant) is a readily industrial applicable way to give electrical properties to wool with good ageing stability [1], although pre-treatments are required to avoid damage of the cuticle surface due to the acidic condition of the process. FT-IR and EDX analysis reveal that organic sulphonates and sulphates, used as dopants, are absorbed by wool, while chlorine ions are preferably embedded on the polypyrrole layer. The resulting electrical conductivity seems mainly due to the presence of chlorine as counter-ion of polypyrrole; nevertheless, the presence of arylsulphonate in the polymerisation bath increases the electrical conductivity of the coating layer.

Chitosan coated cotton gauze for antibacterial water filtration

Communicable diseases can be transmitted by contaminated water. Water decontamination process is fundamental to eliminate microorganisms. In this work, cotton gauzes were coated with chitosan using an UV-curing process or cationized by introduction of quaternary ammonium groups and tested, in static and dynamic conditions, as water filter for biological disinfection against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Both materials showed good antibacterial activity, in static assessment, instead in dynamic conditions, chitosan treated gauze showed a high antimicrobial efficiency in few seconds of contact time. This composite could be a good candidate for application as biological filter.