Multifunctional Hydrophobic, Oleophobic and Flame-retardant Polyester Fabric

Technical textile materials with multifunctional protective properties represent one of the largest and fast growing segments of the textile industry. Multifunctional water-and oil-repellent and flame-retardant coating on polyester (PES) fabric was prepared in this research using fluoroalkyl-functional siloxane (FAS) as the water- and oil-repellent finishing agent and organophosphonate (OP) as the flame-retardant agent. A finishing solution containing FAS and OP of appropriate concentrations was applied to the untreated and oxygen plasma-treated PES fabric samples using the pad-dry-cure method. For comparison, single-component FAS and OP finishing solutions were applied to the fabric samples under the same conditions. The coated PES samples were washed under standard conditions. The morphological, chemical and functional properties of the coated PES samples were determined with scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wet pick up, liquid contact and sliding angles measurements as well as oil repellence and vertical burning tests. The results reveal that oxygen plasma treatment prior to finishing significantly increased the wettability of the PES fibres, which directly resulted in increased concentration of the absorbed finishing agents. This treatment enabled the creation of PES fabric with simultaneous superhydrophobic, oleophobic and flame-retardant properties. Although the superhydrophobic and oil-repellent characteristics of the coating were preserved after washing, the flame retardancy was hindered because of the removal of OP in the washing bath.