Journal of Textile Research ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (02): 207-217.doi: 10.13475/j.fzxb.20240906401

• Dyeing and Finishing Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Efficient and economical preparation of patterned durable waterborne polyurethane/carbon nanotube multifunctional antistatic composite fabrics

ZHANG Zhe1, WANG Rui1(), CAI Tao2   

  1. 1. School of Textile Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
    2. CTES Research Institute of Apparel and Accessories Industry of Shishi, Quanzhou, Fujian 362700, China
  • Received:2024-09-25 Revised:2024-11-01 Online:2025-02-15 Published:2025-03-04
  • Contact: WANG Rui E-mail:wangrui@tiangong.edu.cn

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Abstract:

Objective Synthetic fiber fabrics such as polyester and nylon are prone to severe static electricity issues. A comprehensive review of the current literature on fabric antistatic research and an understanding of commercially available antistatic materials reveals that the most effective method to combat static electricity is to enhance the electrical conductivity of the fibers or fabrics using materials with excellent conductive properties, thereby rapidly eliminating static electricity through leakage. The mainstream preparation techniques involve applying conductive materials to the fiber or fabric surface through methods such as padding, coating, and sputtering. However, these methods are associated with complex operations, high costs, and low material utilization rates. Therefore, this study aims to explore an efficient and cost-effective preparation process for antistatic composite fabrics.

Method The preparation process of antistatic composite fabrics in this research was divided into two parts. In the first part, commercially available carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dispersion and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) were used to prepare antistatic paste through simple stirring and thickening. The process parameters of the paste were then optimized using the response surface methodology. Subsequently, precision screen printing meshes with various mesh structures were designed using AutoCAD software and applied to the fabric surface via simple screen printing, resulting in mesh-printed printed coated fabrics.

Results The optimization of the paste making process using the response surface methodology took into consideration of the amounts of thickener (PTF), slow dryer (TPM), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as influencing factors, with the goal of minimizing the resistance of the coated fabric. The optimal preparation condition for the paste was determined to be PTF (0.63%), TPM (2.5%), and CNTs (1.35%). The surface resistivity of the coated fabric prepared with these parameters was as low as 4.5×104 Ω, close to the theoretical value, indicating the practical application value of the response surface methodology. The study designed and prepared square, circular, and triangular mesh-print coated fabrics and evaluated their antistatic performance. The surface resistances of the square, circular, and triangular mesh-print coated fabrics were 2.12×105 Ω, 2.87×105 Ω, and 3.12×105 Ω, respectively. The test results also showed that the electric charge density fell within the range of 2.5-2.8 μC/cm2, and the static half period test was between 3.5-4.2. Comparison with the antistatic test results of the overall coated fabric revealed that the mesh coated fabrics were able to achieve a very similar antistatic level, and the area of the mesh-print coating was only 50% of the entire fabric. The mesh-print coated fabric was subjected to wear performance tests, including simulating 25 home washes, sandpaper abrasion, and immersion in acidic and alkaline solutions with pH value ranged from 1 to 14, and the mesh-print coated fabric demonstrated excellent stability in antistatic performance. The mesh-print coated fabrics were also evaluated for photothermal response. Under the irradiation of a xenon lamp simulating sunlight, the coated surface temperature reached up to 72.5 ℃, showing excellent stability.

Conclusion The antistatic performance of the mesh-print coated fabrics designed and prepared in this study was comparable to that of the commerically coated fabrics, with a 50% reduction in the amount of coating paste used, which reduces production costs and improves material utilization. However, a comprehensive understanding of the mesh-print coated fabrics requires a systematic study to investigate the impact of parameters such as mesh shape design, mesh printing area, and mesh width on antistatic performance to design the optimal mesh coating scheme.

Key words: carbon nanotube, screen printing, mesh coating, antistatic fabric, photothermal property

CLC Number: 

  • TS106.8

Fig.1

Schematic diagram of preparation process. (a) Preparation process of screen-printing paste; (b) Preparation process of screen-printed mesh coated fabric"

Tab.1

Response surface test factor levels and coding"

编码 A
PTF
质量分数/%		 B
TPM
质量分数/%		 C
CNTs
质量分数/%
-1 0.500 1 1.1
0 0.625 2 1.3
1 0.750 3 1.5

Fig.2

FT-IR spectra and surface morphology of coated fabrics. (a) FT-IR spectra of WPU coating, CNTs/WPU coating, and TPM/CNTs/WPU coating; (b) Surface morphology of printed coated fabric with low amount of PTF added; (c) Surface morphology of printed coated fabric without TPM; (d) Surface morphology of printed coated fabric under optimal process conditions"

Fig.3

Single factor test results of coated fabric resistance with different CNTs contents(a), TPM contents(b) and PTF contents(c)"

Tab.2

Experimental design and results"

序号 A
PTF质量
分数		 B
TPM质量
分数		 C
CNTs质量
分数		 电阻R/
(105 Ω)
1 -1 -1 0 3.97
2 1 -1 0 3.45
3 -1 1 0 1.83
4 1 1 0 1.65
5 -1 0 -1 3.54
6 1 0 -1 2.64
7 -1 0 1 1.93
8 1 0 1 1.99
9 0 -1 -1 4.86
10 0 1 -1 1.51
11 0 -1 1 1.89
12 0 1 1 0.95
13 0 0 0 0.62
14 0 0 0 0.83
15 0 0 0 0.69
16 0 0 0 0.65
17 0 0 0 0.88

Tab.3

Analysis of Variance Results of Resistance Regression Equation"

方差来源 平方和 自由度 方差 F值 P值 显著性
回归模型 26.25 9 2.92 75.09 < 0.000 1 **
A 0.30 1 0.30 7.63 0.028 0 *
B 8.47 1 8.47 217.97 < 0.000 1 **
C 4.19 1 4.19 107.89 < 0.000 1 **
AB 0.029 1 0.029 0.74 0.416 9
AC 0.23 1 0.23 5.93 0.045 1 *
BC 1.45 1 1.45 37.38 0.000 5 **
A2 5.16 1 5.16 132.78 < 0.000 1 **
B2 3.29 1 3.29 84.76 < 0.000 1 **
C2 1.97 1 1.97 50.75 0.000 2 **
残差 0.27 7 0.039
失拟项 0.22 3 0.073 5.57 0.065 3
纯误差 0.053 4 0.013
合计 26.52 16

Fig.4

Response surface and contour plots of mutual influence of three factors. (a) Response surface of interaction between PTF and TPM; (b) Response surface of interaction between PTF and CNTs; (c) Response surface of the interaction between TPM and CNTs; (d) Contour plots of interaction between PTF and TPM; (e) Contour plots of interaction between PTF and CNTs; (f) Contour plots of interaction between TPM and CNTs"

Fig.5

Image of mesh-coated fabric sample and antistatic performance. (a) Square mesh coating; (b) Circular mesh coating; (c) Triangular mesh coating; (d) Resistance of coated fabrics; (e) Electric charge density of coated fabrics; (f) Static half period of coated fabrics"

Fig.6

Photothermal performance of coated fabrics. (a) Schematic diagram of fabric heating test under xenon lamp simulating sunlight; (b) Infrared thermal imaging of coated fabric; (c) Infrared thermal imaging of uncoated fabric; (d) Temperature of fabric under xenon lamp irradiation for 1 h; (e) Photothermal cycle stability of coated fabric"

Fig.7

Acid and alkali stability of coated fabrics. (a) Resistance of coated fabric after soaking in different pH solutions for 5 d; (b) Resistance change trend with soaking time in different pH solutions"

Fig.8

Resistance test results of coated fabric after washing and friction and surface morphology of coating before and after washing. (a) Test results of water washing resistance of coated fabric; (b) Friction test results of coated fabric sandpaper; (c) Unwashed coated fabrics; (d) Overall coated fabric after washing; (e) Washed mesh-printed coated fabric"

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