Yiping Liu

Surface micro-dissolution process for embedding carbon nanotubes on cotton fabric as a conductive textile

A facile and original method of embedding carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotube (CCNTs) by a surface micro-dissolution process on cotton fabrics is proposed. Carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotube/cotton composites (CCNT/cotton composites) were created by embedding carbon nanotubes in the surface layer of cotton fabrics. The fabrics were treated in a NaOH/urea aqueous system under low temperature, allowing the incorporation of the CCNTs into the surface layer of the fabrics via a surface micro-dissolution technique. The composite fabrics were subjected to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and four-point probe resistivity measurements to investigate their structural, morphological, and component properties, degradation temperature, and conductivity. The results show that CCNT/cotton composites have electrical conductivity.

Surface micro-dissolution of ramie fabrics with NaOH/urea to eliminate hairiness

Ramie fabric has excellent air permeability and moisture absorption, but the scratchiness caused by hairiness has seriously limited the development of ramie in the apparel field. In this paper, we studied a novel surface micro-dissolution method, which can swell cellulose macromolecules on the surface zone of ramie fabric and eliminate hairiness to decrease scratchiness. Surface micro-dissolution was conducted in the presence of sodium hydroxide/urea (NaOH/urea) aqueous system as an effective cellulose solvent at low temperature. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry were used to investigate the morphology and structure of treated ramie fabrics. Hairiness configuration, breaking strength, whiteness, and moisture sorption of the fabrics were also studied. The results indicated that surface micro-dissolution could effectively eliminate hairiness, and the fabrics tension decreased only slightly. In addition, whiteness and moisture sorption was also maintained.

UV-Blocking Property of Nano-ZnO Thin Film Coating on Silk Fabric

The shielding against the UV radiation is one of the practical requirements for the textile industry. The in-situ synthesis process of ZnO nanorod arrays on silk fabric by the application of a hydrothermal method was described in this paper. Experimental parameters (concentration, temperature, time) were adjusted systematically to obtain the optimum. The results indicated that ZnO nanorod arrays grew well on silk fabric surface and enhanced UV-blocking property of the silk fabric.

Surface micro-dissolve treatment of cotton fabrics with sodium hydroxide/urea to impart crease-resistance properties:

In this study, cotton fabric samples were treated by the surface micro-dissolve process to improve their crease-resistance properties. The surface micro-dissolve treatment was conducted in the presence of sodium hydroxide/urea as an effective cellulose solvent at low temperature. The treated cotton fabrics were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Crease-resistance, tearing strength, breaking strength, whiteness degrees and moisture sorption values of the fabrics were also studied. The results indicated that the surface micro-dissolve treatment could effectively improve the crease-resistance properties of cotton fabrics. Moreover, the mechanical properties and whiteness degrees of fabric samples were retained well.

Preparation of smart and reversible wettability cellulose fabrics for oil/water separation using a facile and economical method

Successful fabrication of smart membrane based on cellulose fabric for controllable oil/water separation was reported. Sheet hexagonal ZnO was in situ synthesized on surface of cellulose fibers using NaOH/urea and ZnCl2 aqueous solution which were also exploited to fix ZnO steadily due to their swelling and dissolving effects on cellulose. Reversible wettability transition between superhydrophobicity/superoleophilicity and superhydrophilicity/superoleophobicity underwater was manipulated easily by dipping into a lauric acid ethanol solution and NaOH/ethanol water solution in turn for 2min. In detail, the as-prepared functionalized membranes can separate weight or light oil/water mixtures with separation efficiency higher than 98% of water removing and 96.5% of oil removing and high oil flux of 2900-3200 L h-2 m-2 and water flux of 3100-3400 L h-2 m-2. Simultaneously, the modified fabrics exhibited good stability and excellent recyclability via 20 times cycle operations of wettability transition and separation.

Immobilization of Papain on Flexible Magnetic Nanoparticles

Flexible magnetic nanoparticles decorated with dialdehyde starch (DAS) were developed and used as a novel enzyme support for the covalent conjugation of papain. The analyses of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the preparation of magnetic particles with flexible long molecular chains on their surfaces and conjugation of papain with the Fe3O4-DAS nanoparticles. Considering that the immobilized papain was found to exhibit better tolerance to the variations of temperature and medium pH, an advantage of easy to magnetic separation and lack of negative effect on biological activity, the kind of flexible magnetic bioconjugate support should be a good immobilized enzyme carrier, and has potential application in textile, leather, food industries.