Sol-gel technology sprays ultra-hydrophobic coatings on cotton fabrics.

In a new study, hydrophobic surfaces on cotton fabrics were obtained using sol-gel technology to produce coatings applied by spraying presumed solutions, followed by drying and heat treatment.
In order to assess the effect on the hydrophobicity of the fabric, different types of treatment were performed using the sol-gel process and parameters were changed, including the concentration of citric acid and tetraethyl silicate (TEOS), the number of sprays and the curing of the fabric after curing to obtain a hydrophobic coating.
the absorption of water in the material sample was tested in accordance with THEC test method 79

. Scanning electron microscopes, contact angles and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis were also studied. The contact angle (150 degrees) achieves excellent results, so all treatments are classified as ultra-hydrophobic.
is consistent well with the experimental
. The FT-IR analysis revealed differences depending on the citric acid concentration used. Use a sample treated with a higher concentration of citric acid and spray the sol-gel solution twice for optimal results. The mathematical model of contact angle and water absorption time of TEOS and citric acid treated fabrics is in good agreement with the experimental data.
the study has been published in volume 95 (2020) of the Sol-Gel Journal of Science and Technology.
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