Cellulose textile materials with superhydrophilic properties

Fabrics made of cotton, flax and viscose fiber were chosen as objects of research. Samples of 20×20 cm were prepared. In order to give hydrophobic properties to fabrics based on sol-gel technology, a composition was prepared from a solution of sodium silicate (in the ratio of sodium silicate:water / 1:2). To create an acidic environment, 5 ml of acetic acid was added to the solution. The treated samples were dried in a thermal oven at 80 °C for 15 minutes. The samples were then treated with a solution of polymethylsiloxane (at a concentration of 20-40 ml/L), followed by pressing and drying, and then heat treatment at 120 °C for 1 minute. Samples treated with sodium silicate and polymethylsiloxane retained good hydrophobic properties even after wet processing. The hydrophobicity of cellulose textile materials was determined using a penetrometer in accordance with the ISO 811-2021 standard. Under various conditions, this value exceeded 100 mm of water pressure for the treated fabrics. When testing the resistance of the fabric surface to wetting by spraying (according to the ISO 4920 standard), the treated samples were rated at 4 to 5 points, which is due to the presence of small droplets on the surface of the sample. For untreated fabrics, this value was 0 points, indicating that both sides of the sample were completely wet. The air permeability of the cellulose textile materials treated with the proposed composition meets the regulatory requirements.

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