Effect of polyester fabric through electroless Ni-P plating

Process for electroless nickel-phosphorous (Ni-P) plating has been investigated as a metallizing treatment technology on polyester fabric. The microstructure and mechanical performance of Ni-P-plated polyester fabric are investigated in this study. Surface modifications of Ni-P-plated polyester fiber were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The changes in weight and thickness of the Ni-P-plated polyester fabric were determined through direct measurements. Systematic investigations, including bending rigidity, tearing strength, tensile strength, elongation at break, air permeability, wettability and absorbency, and anti-static property were conducted on untreated and metallized polyester fabrics. A thorough discussion and quantitative report were made on the specific performance of the Ni-P-plated polyester fabric.     

Design application of polyester with chemical silver plating

Chemical plating is one of the metallising treatment processes for fibrous materials that can produce unique textile properties. It poses a great potential for textile products in application aspects including functional and decorative effects. This study has investigated the operation condition and resultant performance of using chemical silver plating on polyester fabric. The silver-plated polyester fabric exhibited a specific protective function and novel appearance if optimum chemical plating condition was chosen. Furthermore, the fabric design practice employed by this chemical technique with design approach had achieved the diverse effects.     

Optimization of electroless nickel plating on polyester fabric

Electrical conductivity is an important property of electroless nickel plated fabric. The optimized electroless nickel plating method can provide useful information for textile industries to obtain optimum surface resistance and stable plating. In this study, a screening experiment with factorial design and response surface method (RSM) with central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize the electroless nickel plating on polyester fabric. A two-level full factorial design (FFD) was used to determine the effects of five factors, i.e. the concentrations of nickel sulfate, sodium hypophosphite and sodium citrate, pH and temperature of the plating solution on surface resistance of the electroless nickel plated fabric. It is found that the nickel sulfate concentration and temperature of the plating solution are the most significant variables affecting the surface resistance of electroless nickel plated fabric. The optimum operating condition is finally obtained by using a desirability function. The test for reliability for predicting response surface equations shows that these equations give an excellent fitting to the observed values. In addition, the deposit composition, surface morphology, crystal structure and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) were studied. The EMI SE of the nickel plated polyester fabric obtained under the optimal condition is about 60 dB at the frequency ranging from 2 to 18 GHz.     

Effects of deposition parameters of electroless copper plating on polyester fabric

Properties of electroless copper-plated polyester fabric mainly depend on the plating bath constituents/conditions. The nickel serves to catalyze the copper deposition when hypophosphite is used as a reducing agent. In this study, the effects of deposition parameters including additive NiSO₄ concentration and pH on microstructure and properties of the electroless copper plating on polyester fabric using hypophosphite as a reducing agent were investigated. The results show that at a higher NiSO₄ concentration, the copper content present in the coating decreases whereas the nickel content increases slightly. On the other hand, the copper content present in the coating increases, whereas the nickel content and phosphorus decreases with respect to the rise of pH. The morphology of the copper deposits show that the particle size increase with respect to the rise of NiSO₄ concentration and pH. The XRD patterns indicate that the copper-plated polyester fabrics are crystalline. In addition, there is a decrease in the surface resistance and an increase in the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) with respect to the rise of Ni²⁺ concentration and pH of the solution as a result of gaining a greater weight in the deposits. The results suggest that the copper-plated polyester fabrics have a great potential application as an EMI shielding material.     

Influence of deposition parameters and kinetics of electroless Ni-P plating on polyester fiber

The electroless nickel-phosphorous (Ni-P) plating on polyester fiber using sodium hypophosphite as a reducing agent in alkaline medium was studied. The effects of plating parameters including concentrations, pH and bath temperature of the plating bath on deposition rate of the electroless Ni-P plating were investigated. The results reveal that the deposition rates increase with the increase in the concentration of nickel sulfate, sodium hypophosphite, pH and bath temperature, respectively. However, it is determined that the deposition rates decrease with the rise of sodium citrate. The kinetics of the deposition reaction was investigated and an empirical rate equation for electroless Ni-P plating on polyester fiber was developed.     

Simultaneous application of silver nanoparticles with different crease resistant finishes

Textiles, especially those made of natural fibers, are suitable medium for the growth of microorganisms which causes disease transmission, stink, colorful spots, and reduction in fabric strength. This research focuses on the antimicrobial finishing of cotton fabrics using colloidal solution of silver nanoparticles. Due to the difficulties of adding a new step to the finishing process of cotton textiles, efforts have been made to combine the antimicrobial treatment with the conventional finishing processes. For this purpose two chemical finishes of Fixapret ECO as a crosslinking agent and Cellofix ME as a resin former have been used in anti crease finishing of cotton fabric and their effects were evaluated. The properties of the samples have been investigated by measuring the resistant of samples against bacteria, crease recovery angle, abrasion, and washing fastness. The results showed that treated samples by pad-dry method have the best antibacterial effect with a direct relation between the increase in drying temperature and antibacterial properties. However, the washing and abrasion fastness were not at the acceptable level. Co-application of the colloidal solution of silver nanoparticles with the crease resistant materials improved both fastness properties while at the same time limited the direct contact between the nanoparticles and the bacteria so the antibacterial efficiency was reduced. Subsequently, it was concluded that the antibacterial finishing method should be selected according to the end uses. In addition, antibacterial treatment could be one of the multi-purpose finishes for cotton fabric.     

Synthesis and characterization of acrylic fibers with antibacterial silver nanoparticles

The present investigation reports the novel synthesis of acrylic fibers containing Ag nanoparticles under ultrasound irradiation. The effect of temperature and power of ultrasound irradiation in growth of the Ag nanoparticles were studied. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results show a decrease in the particles size as the power of ultrasound irradiation decreased. Particle sizes and morphology of nanoparticles depend on temperature. As a result, an increase in temperature led to increase of particle size. The textile containing nanoparticles were tested for their antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus and were found to possess significant antibacterial activity.     

Composites of polyvinyl alcohol and carbon nanotubes decorated with silver nanoparticles

A simple method to decorate carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with silver nanoparticles was developed to enhance the electrical conductivity of CNTs. The acid-treated CNTs were suspended in the silver acetate solution, ammonia solution was then added, and the CNTs decorated with silver nanoparticles (Ag@CNTs) were produced. The Ag@CNTs were dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to fabricate electrically conducting polymer composites. The electrical, thermal and mechanical properties of the composites were measured. The electrical conductivity of the composites containing 0.8 % (o.w.f.) Ag@CNTs was more than four orders of magnitude higher than those of pristine and functionalized CNTs respectively, which confirmed the effectiveness of the Ag@CNTs as conducting filler. However, the improved electrical conductivity led to somewhat decrease of mechanical properties of PVA/Ag@CNTs composites.     

Antibacterial properties of PLA nonwoven medical dressings coated with nanostructured silver

In this paper, magnetron sputtering was applied to deposit nano-structured silver films on the surfaces of polylactic acid (PLA) nonwovens, which were used in medical dressings. The influence of the coating thickness of the nano-structured sliver films on the antibacterial property of the nonwovens was studied. The antibacterial properties of the medical dressings were measured by shake flask test. The surface morphology of nano-structured silver films and the grain sizes of silver agglomerates were analyzed by atomic force microscope (AFM). Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) was employed to analyze the surface elemental compositions. The study revealed that the antibacterial properties were improved as the film thickness increased. AFM images of the coated samples indicated that as the sputtering time prolonged, the film thickness was increased, the film became compacter, and the specific area of the film was also increased. Thus, the release rate of silver ions increased, leading to the improved antibacterial property. It was found that the reduction percentage of both tested bacteria-Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli reached 100 % as the coating thickness exceeded 1 nm.     

Polyester modification through synthesis of copper nanoparticles in presence of triethanolamine optimized with response surface methodology

In this paper, polyester fabric was modified through synthesis and fabrication of Cu/Cu₂O nanoparticles using a facile and cost-effective method at boil by chemical reduction through exhaustion route. Triethanolamine (TEA) was used for aminolysis of polyester fabric and pH adjusting, copper sulfate (CuSO₄) as metal salt, sodium hypophosphite (SHP) as reducing agent and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as stabilizer. A response surface methodology was also employed to optimize the reaction conditions and study the effects of SHP, PVP and TEA concentrations in the processing. The images of field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), the patterns of energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed successfully synthesis of Cu and Cu₂O nanoparticles on the polyester fabric. Further, the thermal behavior of the untreated and treated fabrics was studied by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning colorimetry (DSC). The treated fabrics indicated good properties regarding wettability and flame-retardant along with high tensile strength.     

Surface modification of polyester fibers by thermal reduction with silver carbamate complexes

In this study, the surface of polyester fiber was modified by means of thermal treatment with a silver carbamate complex. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM), an X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to allow a detailed characterization of the silver-coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers. The results revealed remarkable changes in the surface morphology and microstructure of the silver film after thermal reduction. On SEM, the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were seen to be uniformly and densely deposited on the fiber surface. The XRD pattern of the silver-coated fiber indicated that the film has a crystalline structure. A continuous layer of AgNPs, between 30 and 100 nm in size, was assembled on the PET fibers. The PET/Ag composite was found to impart high conductivity to the fibers, with an electrical resistivity as low as 0.12 kΩ·cm.     

Antimicrobial electrospun silk fibroin mats with silver nanoparticles for wound dressing application

In this report, silk fibroin (SF) mats coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were manufactured as a prototypic wound dressing and evaluated for antimicrobial properties. SF was extracted from cocoons of Thai silkworms Bombyx mori (variant Nangnoi Si Sa Ket) and fabricated into nonwoven mats by electrospinning. In a one-step synthesis method, colloidal AgNPs were prepared from silver nitrate by gamma irradiation and inspected by transmission electron microscopy. Using the in vitro disc diffusion and growth-inhibition assays, AgNP-coated SF mats effectively inhibited the growth of Staphyllococus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa when the coating solution containing colloidal AgNPs was 4 mM, or equivalent to 50.4 ng/cm² of adsorbed AgNPs. Based on these results, the AgNP-coated SF mats can potentially be used as antimicrobial wound dressings.     

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles with sericin and functional finishing to cotton fabrics

This research presents a novel strategy to fabricate multi-functional cotton textiles. In this study, silver nanoparticles-sericin (Ag NPS-sericin) hybrid colloid has been prepared using sericin as reducing agent and dispersing agent. Cotton fabrics was oxidized selectively with sodium periodate (NaIO₄) to generate oxidized cotton fabrics, and which has then been finished using Ag NPS-sericin hybrid colloid prepared to obtain multi-functional cotton textiles. The finished cotton fabric not only possessed excellent antibacterial activity, but also it was modified functionally by sericin protein, which endowed antibacterial cotton fabrics relatively smooth surface and good wear ability. Fourier transform infrared spectrogram confirmed that sericin protein was grafted onto cellulose fibers. Ag NPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The results of SEM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and EDS confirmed that silver nanoparticles and sericin been loaded successfully on the surface of cotton fabrics. The antibacterial experiments showed bacterial reduction rates of S.aureus and E.coli were able to reach above 99 %. After washing 20 times, it showed still good antibacterial activity at over 95 % against S.aureus and E.coli.     

Antibacterial cotton fabric with enhanced durability prepared using L-cysteine and silver nanoparticles

L-cysteine (Cys) and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were successfully linked onto the cotton fabric surfaces. The Cys molecules were covalently linked to the cotton fibers via esterification with the cellulose hydroxyl groups, and the Ag NPs tightly adhered to the fiber surface via coordination bonds with the Cys thiol groups. As a result, the Ag NPs coating on the cotton fabric showed an excellent antibacterial function with an outstanding laundering durability. The bacterial reduction rates (BR) efficiency reached 100 % for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). After 50 consecutive laundering cycles, the bacterial reduction rates (BR) against E. coli and S. aureus were maintained over 97 %. It has potential applications in a wide variety of fields such as sportswear, socks, and medical textile.     

麻盖涤吸湿快干针织面料性能及整理工艺研究

以纯苎麻纱和细旦涤纶为原料编织麻盖涤双面针织物；用亲水性硅油、水性聚氨酯、纤维紊酶等进行吸湿快干、柔软以及消除刺痒感的整理。结果表明：麻盖涤针织面料的吸湿快干性能比棉盖涤好，通过应用合适的整理剂和整理工艺能有效地解决麻盖涤针织物手感和刺痒感问题。本文还对纯苎麻纱针织织造中断纱爆孔问题提出了解决的措施。     

麻盖涤吸湿快干针织面料性能及整理工艺研究

以纯苎麻纱和细旦涤纶为原料编织麻盖涤双面针织物;用亲水性硅油、水性聚氨酯、纤维素酶等进行吸湿快干、柔软以及消除刺痒感的整理。结果表明:麻盖涤针织面料的吸湿快干性能比棉盖涤好,通过应用合适的整理剂和整理工艺能有效地解决麻盖涤针织物手感和刺痒感问题。本文还对纯苎麻纱针织织造中断纱爆孔问题提出了解决的措施。     

Management of silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani) with fungicide seed treatments and storage practices

Thiabendazole insensitive strains ofHelminthosporium solani, the causal agent of silver scurf, make controlling the disease with seed treatment difficult. Potato tuber seed treatments and environmental storage management practices were investigated as means to minimize silver scurf. Fungicide seed treatments were evaluated for control ofH. solani; disease was evaluated during the growing season, at harvest, and after 5 months of storage. Silver scurf was observed on progeny tubers eleven weeks after planting. Fungicides that reduced silver scurf incidence and severity on the seed resulted in reduced incidence and severity of the disease in the progeny tubers at harvest and significantly lower disease ratings after storage. Only small increases in disease incidence (0-8%) were seen after storage. Thiophanate-methyl with mancozeb, Captan with mancozeb, and fludioxonil were among the most effective in reducing the incidence and severity of silver scurf on seed and in progeny tubers (Incidence on progeny tubers at harvest for these three treatments were 3%, 9%, and 8% respectively). Thiophanatemethyl alone was not effective for control of silver scurf (48% incidence compared to 43% incidence for the untreated control). Environmental conditions in storage affected disease development. Reduced humidity (85%) during the curing period (0–3 weeks after harvest) significantly reduced (11%) the surface area of tubers infected with silver scurf. Free moisture on the tuber surfaces during storage significantly increased (15%) tuber surface area infection.H. solani was shown to survive in soil and on some potato storage building materials for up to 9 months. The silver scurf disease of potatoes can be suppressed using effective seed treatment and storage management.     

Occurrence,development, and losses associated with silver scurf and black dot on Colorado potatoes

Silver scurf, caused byHelminthosporium solani, and black dot, caused byColletotrichum atramentarium, are pathogens of tuber periderm whose presence in Colorado was only recently reported. A field survey conducted in September 1977 revealed thatC. atramentarium was more prevalent (21.8% tuber infection) and had a wider distribution thanH. solani (5.4% tuber infection). A greater incidence of both pathogens was observed on thin skinned tubers of chipping cultivars (49.0% infection) than on thicker skinned tubers of table stock cultivars (9.1% infection). Conidial development ofH. solani is tretic, pleurogenous, and requires 17–21 hours per conidium. Conidial septations appear while conidial elongate, and require 3–5 hours per septum. Light microscopy revealed that at least 11 conidia per conidiophore are produced in culture in 54 hours at 20–25 C (68–77 F) and humidity >90%. Scanning electron microscopy showed that fructifications ofH. solani (conidiophores-conidia) arise from beneath infected tuber periderm. Histological studies indicate some peridermal loosening and sloughing. Heavy deposition of unidentified compounds was observed in infected periderm, and hyphae were restricted to periderm cells. Fresh weight loss of tubers naturally infected withC. atramentarium was significantly greater than fresh weight loss of nearly noninfected (< 1% surface area infected) control tubers. Periderm infected with eitherH. solani orC. atramentarium appeared similar, i.e. shriveled, suggesting infections from either pathogen may result in increased fresh weight loss through alteration of the periderm.     

Control of silver scurf on potato by dusting or spraying seed tubers with fungicides before planting

Silver scurf of potato caused byHelminthosporium solanl Dur. & Mont. is a blemish disease that has become economically important in recent years and is considered primarily seedborne. The objective of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of various fungicides, alone or in combination, applied to seed tubers prior to planting, in controlling silver scurf on the daughter tubers. Disease incidence and severity were significantly reduced by all treatments in three experimental locations, with the exception of fluazinam, which was not effective. Among the fungicides tested in these experiments, the most effective were fludioxonil and prochloraz-Zn applied as a LV spray (control efficiency of 88% and 82%, respectively) and propineb and mancidan applied as a dust treatment (control efficiency of 78% and 77%, respectively). Azoxystrobin and imazalil treatments were less effective with control efficiencies of 68% and 43%, respectively. None of the various treatments affected crop yields in the three experimental sites.