Jianwu Lan

Optimization of electroless nickel plating on polyester fabric

Electrical conductivity is an important property of electroless nickel plated fabric. The optimized electroless nickel plating method can provide useful information for textile industries to obtain optimum surface resistance and stable plating. In this study, a screening experiment with factorial design and response surface method (RSM) with central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize the electroless nickel plating on polyester fabric. A two-level full factorial design (FFD) was used to determine the effects of five factors, i.e. the concentrations of nickel sulfate, sodium hypophosphite and sodium citrate, pH and temperature of the plating solution on surface resistance of the electroless nickel plated fabric. It is found that the nickel sulfate concentration and temperature of the plating solution are the most significant variables affecting the surface resistance of electroless nickel plated fabric. The optimum operating condition is finally obtained by using a desirability function. The test for reliability for predicting response surface equations shows that these equations give an excellent fitting to the observed values. In addition, the deposit composition, surface morphology, crystal structure and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) were studied. The EMI SE of the nickel plated polyester fabric obtained under the optimal condition is about 60 dB at the frequency ranging from 2 to 18 GHz.

Influence of Deposition Parameters and Kinetics of Electroless Ni-P Plating on Polyester Fiber

The electroless nickel-phosphorous (Ni-P) plating on polyester fiber using sodium hypophosphite as a reducing agent in alkaline medium was studied. The effects of plating parameters including concentrations, pH and bath temperature of the plating bath on deposition rate of the electroless Ni-P plating were investigated. The results reveal that the deposition rates increase with the increase in the concentration of nickel sulfate, sodium hypophosphite, pH and bath temperature, respectively. However, it is determined that the deposition rates decrease with the rise of sodium citrate. The kinetics of the deposition reaction was investigated and an empirical rate equation for electroless Ni-P plating on polyester fiber was developed.

Effects of deposition parameters of electroless copper plating on polyester fabric

Properties of electroless copper-plated polyester fabric mainly depend on the plating bath constituents/conditions. The nickel serves to catalyze the copper deposition when hypophosphite is used as a reducing agent. In this study, the effects of deposition parameters including additive NiSO4 concentration and pH on microstructure and properties of the electroless copper plating on polyester fabric using hypophosphite as a reducing agent were investigated. The results show that at a higher NiSO4 concentration, the copper content present in the coating decreases whereas the nickel content increases slightly. On the other hand, the copper content present in the coating increases, whereas the nickel content and phosphorus decreases with respect to the rise of pH. The morphology of the copper deposits show that the particle size increase with respect to the rise of NiSO4 concentration and pH. The XRD patterns indicate that the copper-plated polyester fabrics are crystalline. In addition, there is a decrease in the surface resistance and an increase in the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) with respect to the rise of Ni2+ concentration and pH of the solution as a result of gaining a greater weight in the deposits. The results suggest that the copper-plated polyester fabrics have a great potential application as an EMI shielding material.

Metallized textile design through electroless plating and tie-dyeing technique

The aim of the study is to investigate design effects of the electroless metal plated fabrics in order to meet the requirement of high technical and apparel applications by using tie-dyeing technique. The appearance of nickel plated and nickel/copper multilayer plated fabrics obtained under different conditions and tie-dyeing technique was investigated, respectively. Metallized textile design by nickel and copper was developed using tie-dyeing method. The nickel/copper multilayer plated fabric indicates that the color changfe from red to gray is with respect to an increase of thickness of the nickel deposits. The resisting effects by using tie-dyeing on the metallized fabrics depend entirely on the texture and strength of the tie-dyeing conditions used. The study reveals that metallized textiles design by combining electroless plating and tie-dyeing are promising for decorative and fashion application.

Microwave-assisted coating of silver nanoparticles on bamboo rayon fabrics modified with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)

Silver nanoparticles were coated on bamboo rayon fabrics (fabrics made from filaments of dissolved and regenerated bamboo pulp fibers) modified with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) under microwave radiation. The silver nanoparticle coated bamboo rayon fabrics modified with PDDA were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscope. Color properties, ultraviolet (UV) protection, softness and contact angle of the silver nanoparticle coated bamboo rayon fabrics were evaluated. The results show that PDDA is successfully modified on the bamboo rayon fabric. Compared with the bamboo rayon fabrics without PDDA modification, more silver nanoparticles are coated on the bamboo rayon fabrics modified with the PDDA. In addition, the bamboo rayon fabric modified with PDDA is evenly covered with silver nanoparticles. The silver nanoparticle coated bamboo rayon fabric modified with PDDA shows the excellent UV protection with UPF of 223.88 and the hydrophobic property with contact angle of 127°. PDDA modification improves the adhesive strength between silver coating and bamboo rayon fabric.

Ultrasound-aided dyeing of cotton fabric with spirooxazines and photochromic properties

Photochromic fabric can change color when exposed to a certain light wavelength. The fabric can reversibly restore to its original color after the light disappears. In this study, two spirooxazines with photochromic properties, i.e., Nmethyl- 3,3-dimethyl-9-hydroxy-spiro [2H-indole-2-[3H] naphtho [2,1-b] [1,4] oxazine] (Spirooxazine A) and N-methyl-3,3-dimethyl-9-dichloro-s-triazine group spiro [2H-indole-2-[3H] naphtho [2,1-b] [1,4] oxazine] (Spirooxazine B), were synthesized. The spirooxazines were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometers. Spirooxazines A and B were used to dye cotton fabrics under ultrasonic irradiation. The results show that cotton fabric dyed with Spirooxazine B has excellent photochromic properties, and better fading time and fatigue resistance.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles on bamboo pulp fabric after plasma pretreatment

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized on bamboo pulp fabric with pretreatment of plasma under microwave radiation. The silver nanoparticles coated bamboo pulp fabrics were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. Color characteristics and contact angles of silver coated bamboo pulp fabrics were evaluated. Adhesive strength of silver nanoparticles on bamboo pulp fabrics without and with pretreatment of plasma was investigated. Compared with silver nanoparticles coated bamboo pulp fabric without pretreatment of plasma, more silver nanoparticles are coated on the bamboo pulp fabric with pretreatment of plasma. Bamboo pulp fabrics are evenly covered with silver nanoparticles with pretreatment of plasma. In addition, influences of distance between the plasma source and the fabric and treating time on deposition amounts of silver nanoparticles were investigated. Color strength values decrease and increase with the rise of distance and treatment time, respectively. The silver nanoparticles coated bamboo pulp fabric pretreatment of plasma has excellent UV protection, good fastness to laundering and hydrophobicity.

Silver nanoparticle coating on cotton fabric modified with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)

Silver nanoparticles were coated on cotton fabric modified with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA). The synthesised silver nanoparticles were characterised by transmission electron microscopy and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. The silver nanoparticle coated cotton fabrics modified with PDDA were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The effects of concentration of PDDA in the pretreatment solution on colour characteristics and UV transmittance of the silver nanoparticle coated cotton fabrics modified with PDDA were investigated. Colour fastness of silver coated cotton fabrics modified with PDDA was also evaluated. The results show that the PDDA modified cotton fabrics are covered with dense silver nanoparticles. Colour strength of the silver nanoparticle coated cotton fabric modified with PDDA increases with the rise of concentration of PDDA in pretreatment solution. The incorporation of PDDA improves washing fastness of silver nanoparticle coated cotton fabrics.

Microstructure and hydrophobic properties of silver nanoparticles on amino-functionalised cotton fabric

A simple one-step chemical reduction method was employed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles on 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) modified cotton fabric. The presence of amino-terminated APTMS on cotton fabric was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The resulting silver coating on cotton fabric was characterised by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction. The effects of deposition parameters including concentrations and temperature of the solution on deposition rate of silver coating on amino-functionalised cotton fabric were investigated. Growth morphology of silver coating was discussed. Hydrophobic property of silver nanoparticle coated cotton fabric modified with APTMS was evaluated. The result indicates that modification of APTMS on the surface of cotton fibres leads to increase in the loading efficiency of silver nanoparticles and improves hydrophobic property of cotton fabric with contact angle of 145.8°.