Superhydrophobic cotton fabrics: a quick and easy method of modification

As part of this research, new halogen free organosilicon compounds were synthesized for the modification of natural fabrics. Difunctional polysiloxanes containing alkoxysilyl groups and silsesquioxane moieties in their structure were obtained by hydrosilylation or thiol-ene click reaction. Using two different reactions leading to the formation of polysiloxane derivatives, we demonstrate the influence of the chemical structure of the obtained polymers on the properties of modified cotton. The structure of the synthesized compounds was confirmed by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. After the synthesis of 6 different polysiloxane derivatives with different content of functional groups in their structures, they were applied to the natural fabrics in order to render them hydrophobic. The samples were modified via the dip-coating process. As a result of the research, superhydrophobic fabrics were obtained that are completely resistant to the process of repeated washing. The water repellency of the fabrics was assessed by measuring the water contact angle. The presence of the modifier on the fiber surface (before and after washing) was confirmed by FT-IR and SEM–EDS analysis. In addition, the surface of the modified fibers was examined using SEM images.