Ronghui Guo

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.

Textile design application via electroless copper plating

Metallized textile has metallic color with reflective effect and smooth handle. The electroless copper plating on fabric using hypophosphite as a reducing agent is feasible process for design application. This study aims to investigate the appearance of the copper-plated Green-PN fabric produced by electroless plating with different deposition conditions including different nickel sulfate concentrations and pH of plating bath. Various colors were produced after the copper-plated fabrics had been exposed to the copper plating bath at 85°C and pH 8.5 for different time. Design application of the electroless copper plating on Green-PN fabric and Black-CVPN fabric was carried out. The electroless copper plating could change the original appearance of the fabric through the deposition of copper particles on the fabric surface. The final pattern was well-defined using many details such as lines and forms created by the design methods. The study laid the foundation of the electroless copper plating for textile design.

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.

Microstructure and photoluminescent properties of Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphors synthesised by precipitation and combustion methods

Abstract Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphors were prepared by NH4HCO3 based precipitation method and C2H5NO2–nitrate solution combustion synthesis method respectively. The phosphors were systematically investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (XPS) and fluorescence spectrometer. Luminescent properties of Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphors synthesised by two different methods were also compared. The results show that Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor prepared by precipitation technique is spherical with nanometre particle size from 55 to 60 nm, whereas the one synthesised by combustion technique exhibits extensive sheet porosity structure. X-ray diffraction spectra indicate that both of the samples have pure cubic phases and the crystallinity of phosphor synthesised by combustion technique is improved. The main emission peaks of Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphors at 613 nm are due to the 5D0–7F2 transition of Eu3+ ions, and phosphor obtained by precipitation method shows higher emission intensity. The results reveal that Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor with spherical particle shape can exhibit good luminescent properties and morphology of Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor is a more crucial factor than crystal structure to the enhanced luminescence.

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.

Metallization of polyester fabric by autocatalytic copper plating process using glyoxylic acid as a reducing agent

In this study, metallization of polyester fabric was studied by autocatalytic copper plating using glyoxylic acid as a reducing agent. Surface morphology, composition, and crystal structure of copper coating on polyester fabrics after electroless deposition were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Surface resistance and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of copper plated polyester fabric were evaluated. It is found that the surface resistance was 128 mΩ/sq and EMI SE arrives at 40–50 dB at the frequency of 6 GHz to 18 GHz as the concentration of copper sulfate was 11 g/l.

Microstructure and properties of Ni-Fe3O4 composite plated polyester fabric

In this study, electroless Ni-Fe3O4 composite plating on polyester fabric modified with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) was investigated under ultrasonic irradiation. Effects of deposit weight on microstructure and properties of Ni-Fe3O4 composite coating were studied. Surface morphology, chemical composition and state, crystal structure of the electroless Ni-Fe3O4 composite plated polyester fabric were characterized by SEM, EDX, XPS and XRD. Magnetic properties, electrical resistivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) of Ni-Fe3O4 plated polyester fabric were also evaluated. The presence of co-deposition of Fe3O4 in Ni coating on the polyester fabric is demonstrated by an XPS analysis. At a higher deposit weight, there is an increase in particle size and saturation magnetization, and a decrease in electrical resistivity with respect to the rise of deposit weight, respectively. As the Ni-Fe3O4 weight on the treated fabric is 32.90 g/m2, the EMI SE of the Ni-Fe3O4 plated polyester fabric arrives 15–20 dB at frequencies that range from 8 to 18 GHz. The results indicate the Ni-Fe3O4 plated polyester fabrics are used as super-paramagnetic, conductive and EMI shielding materials.

Influence of annealing temperature on microstructure and luminescent properties of Y2O3: Eu3+ deposited quartz fibre

In this study, Eu3+ doped Y2O3 (Y2O3: Eu3+) phosphor target was deposited on quartz fibre substrates by electron beam evaporation technology, and then the deposited fibres were annealed at different temperatures from 600 to 1000°C. Particle shape was changed, and particle size of Y2O3: Eu3+ was increased with the rise in annealing temperature. Crystallisation and luminescent intensity of the deposited films on quartz fibres were significantly improved by annealing treatment. The most effective crystallisation and the maximum luminescent efficiency of the thin films were obtained when the deposited fibres were treated at 1000°C for 1 h. The luminescent property results indicated that the particle shape, particle size and crystallisation were the important factors affecting luminescent intensity of the deposited fibres.