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Polymers
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Functionalised Fibers and Multifunctional Fabrics
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Functionalised Fibers and Multifunctional Fabrics

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Fibers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 11889

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Raul Fangueiro

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Fibrenamics, Institute of Innovation on Fiber-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, 4710-057 Guimarães, Portugal
2. Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4710-057 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: fibrous and composite materials; nanofibers; advanced textiles; smart composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Inês P. Moreira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Fibrenamics, Institute of Innovation on Fiber-based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, 4710-057 Guimarães, Portugal
2. Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4710-057 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: nanofibres; functional materials; responsive biomaterials; sensors; nanomaterials; coating; peptides; emulsions; enzymes
Dr. Joana C. Antunes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Fibrenamics, Institute of Innovation on Fiber-based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, 4710-057 Guimarães, Portugal
2. Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4710-057 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: biomaterials; natural polymers; nanoparticles; polyelectrolyte complexation; nanoparticle functionalization; thin film deposition; cell-biomaterial interface; cell and molecular biology; tissue regeneration; infection control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of innovative and disruptive micro- and nanofibrous structures is in constant growth, owing to the versatility and wide application range of these structures. Numerous processing methodologies (e.g., electrospinning, wet-spinning, melt-spinning, dry-spinning, force-spinning) exist to generate solid-state fibers, creating continuous monofilament or multifilament yarns. Subsequently, finely tuned fabrics can be produced industrially through spinning, weaving, knitting, and braiding technologies. Another recent trend in the textile industry that also represents a very promising strategy for the development of advanced protective fibrous structures is the development of multifunctional products via their functionalization with nanoparticles, especially metallic and metal oxide ones, carbon-based products (e.g., graphene and its derivatives), and natural molecules (including marine- or plant-derived compounds). These nanofillers can be integrated at the yarn level, during the fiber production method, through various textile-coating techniques or within a polymeric matrix to create composites. Functionalized fibrous structures can present antimicrobial/antiviral properties, conductivity and sensing capabilities, as well as healing functions. This Special Issue intends to decipher the importance of functional fibers and multifunctional fabrics, and is thus seeking manuscript submissions that enlarge the scientific knowledge of different functionalization techniques and possible properties that can be exploited upon the usage of different active agents.

Prof. Dr. Raul Fangueiro
Dr. Inês P. Moreira
Dr. Joana C. Antunes
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fibrous and composite materials
  • nanofibers
  • advanced textiles
  • smart composites

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 5998 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Natural and Synthetic Fabrics for the Treatment of Complex Wastes
by Alexis López-Borrell, Jaime Lora-García, Vicent Fombuena, Salvador C. Cardona and María-Fernanda López-Pérez
Polymers 2024, 16(1), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16010084 - 27 Dec 2023
Viewed by 615
Abstract
In the present study, nine fabrics have been tested for brackish water treatment with the aim of industrial application under the concept of zero liquid discharge (ZLD). Moisture content was determined, where it was observed that the lignocellulosic fabrics had a moisture content [...] Read more.
In the present study, nine fabrics have been tested for brackish water treatment with the aim of industrial application under the concept of zero liquid discharge (ZLD). Moisture content was determined, where it was observed that the lignocellulosic fabrics had a moisture content ranging from 2.5 to 8.5%. The wetting contact angle showed that the flax with polylactic acid (LPLA) was the most hydrophobic. The determination of the liquid absorption capacity showed that, of the synthetic fabrics, the one with the highest absorption, both in distilled water and in brackish water, was the polyester (PES) fabric with an absorption of 816% compared to its initial weight. In the natural fabrics, the highest absorption capacity was shown by the wet-laid without treatment (WL-WT) fabric for both distilled water and brackish water, although it required several cycles of operation to maintain this stable absorption. Exposure to brackish water improved the absorption capacity of all samples. Mechanical and thermal characterization showed that the synthetic fabrics were more resistant than the natural fabrics, although they may compete in terms of applicability. The capillarity study showed that the most hydrophilic fabrics completed the test the fastest. Finally, the composting degradation test showed that those fabrics with polylactic acid (PLA) content degraded faster in the first 14 days and thereafter the degradation of the lignocellulosic content showed a slower degradation until 112 days. The Bam fabric did not degrade during the course of the experiment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalised Fibers and Multifunctional Fabrics)
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21 pages, 5540 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Integration into Non-Woven Fabrics Using Different Functionalisation Methods for Prospective Application as Active Facemasks
by Tânia Ferreira, Ana Catarina Vale, Alexandra C. Pinto, Rita V. Costa, Vânia Pais, Diana Sousa, Fernanda Gomes, Graça Pinto, José Guilherme Dias, Inês P. Moreira, Carlos Mota, João Bessa, Joana C. Antunes, Mariana Henriques, Fernando Cunha and Raul Fangueiro
Polymers 2023, 15(17), 3499; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15173499 - 22 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1493
Abstract
The development of advanced facemasks stands out as a paramount priority in enhancing healthcare preparedness. In this work, different polypropylene non-woven fabrics (NWF) were characterised regarding their structural, physicochemical and comfort-related properties. The selected NWF for the intermediate layer was functionalised with zinc [...] Read more.
The development of advanced facemasks stands out as a paramount priority in enhancing healthcare preparedness. In this work, different polypropylene non-woven fabrics (NWF) were characterised regarding their structural, physicochemical and comfort-related properties. The selected NWF for the intermediate layer was functionalised with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) 0.3 and 1.2wt% using three different methods: electrospinning, dip-pad-dry and exhaustion. After the confirmation of ZnO NP content and distribution within the textile fibres by morphological and chemical analysis, the samples were evaluated regarding their antimicrobial properties. The functionalised fabrics obtained via dip-pad-dry unveiled the most promising data, with 0.017 ± 0.013wt% ZnO NPs being mostly located at the fibre’s surface and capable of total eradication of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli colonies within the tested 24 h (ISO 22196 standard), as well as significantly contributing (**** p < 0.0001) to the growth inhibition of the bacteriophage MS2, a surrogate of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (ISO 18184 standard). A three-layered structure was assembled and thermoformed to obtain facemasks combining the previously chosen NWF, and its resulting antimicrobial capacity, filtration efficiency and breathability (NP EN ISO 149) were assessed. The developed three-layered and multiscaled fibrous structures with antimicrobial capacities hold immense potential as active individual protection facemasks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalised Fibers and Multifunctional Fabrics)
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17 pages, 3446 KiB  
Article
Incorporating Variable Porosity into the Determination of Effective Permeability in Interchanging Double Cloth Woven Fabrics Using Darcy’s Law
by Ana Kalazić, Tea Badrov, Ivana Schwarz and Snježana Brnada
Polymers 2023, 15(14), 3048; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15143048 - 14 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1113
Abstract
Woven fabrics are widely used for thermal protection due to their porosity, which provides thermal insulation and breathability. This research focuses on investigating the influential parameters in the thermal protective properties of layer interchanging double cloth, including the woven structure and varying yarn [...] Read more.
Woven fabrics are widely used for thermal protection due to their porosity, which provides thermal insulation and breathability. This research focuses on investigating the influential parameters in the thermal protective properties of layer interchanging double cloth, including the woven structure and varying yarn fineness. The properties affecting the protective properties and comfort of multilayered woven fabrics include the fabric thickness, fabric porosity, and air permeability. Darcy’s law is applicable for determining the effective air permeability of woven fabrics. By understanding and controlling fabric porosity, it becomes possible to develop thermal protective clothing that combines improved comfort, cost-efficiency, and effectiveness. This study represents a novel approach for the clarification of airflow permeability behavior in complex structures of elastic multilayer woven fabrics using Darcy’s law. This innovative approach expands the understanding of permeability in fabrics beyond single-layer fabrics with vertical pores or 3D fabrics used in resin injection processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalised Fibers and Multifunctional Fabrics)
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17 pages, 4523 KiB  
Article
Efficient Cationization of Cotton for Salt-Free Dyeing by Adjusting Fiber Crystallinity through Alcohol-Water-NaOH Pretreatment
by Aini Wu, Wei Ma, Zhiyu Yang and Shufen Zhang
Polymers 2022, 14(24), 5546; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14245546 - 18 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2433
Abstract
Cationization of cotton is considered to be an effective way to realize salt-free dyeing of reactive dyes. However, applying cotton modified with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTA) suffers from large consumption of the cationic reagent. One of the reasons is that high crystallinity of cotton [...] Read more.
Cationization of cotton is considered to be an effective way to realize salt-free dyeing of reactive dyes. However, applying cotton modified with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTA) suffers from large consumption of the cationic reagent. One of the reasons is that high crystallinity of cotton fibers hinders the penetration of the reagents into the cellulose interior and limits the reaction between them. This paper designed to use alcohol-water-NaOH system to pretreat the fibers before cationization. With this method, crystallinity of the cotton fibers is decreased and more reactive –OH is exposed, resulting in much higher fiber-reagent reactivity and increased GTA utilization. Influence of alcohol type, alcohol-to-water ratio, and quantity of NaOH on fiber crystallinity and GTA dosage for cationization are all examined. It is found that for achieving 96.0% fixation of C.I. Reactive Black 5 in the absence of salt, GTA dosage can be reduced by half when the fibers are pretreated by alcohol-water-NaOH. Compared with ethanol, n-propanol and isopropanol, tert-butyl alcohol incorporated system shows better performance in increasing fiber reactivity due to their weaker ability to dissolve ions. In this study, XRD and FT-IR are used to demonstrate changes in crystallinity of the fibers after pretreatment. The alteration in micromorphology and hydrophilicity of the pretreated fibers is observed by SEM and water contact angle test, respectively. Furthermore, the alcohol-water-NaOH system can be recycled to show very good repeatability. Notably, all dyed samples pretreated with the system present high color saturation and satisfactory color fastness, especially that the wet rub fastness reaches 4–5 grade, which is one grade higher than that obtained from the conventional dyeing with salt. The above findings prove that alcohol-water-NaOH pretreatment is effective in enhancing reactivity of the cotton fibers and penetrability of the agent, and it shows promising prospects in real application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalised Fibers and Multifunctional Fabrics)
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14 pages, 8591 KiB  
Article
Inkjet Printing of Electrodes on Electrospun Micro- and Nanofiber Hydrophobic Membranes for Flexible and Smart Textile Applications
by Zuzanna J. Krysiak, Hamed Abdolmaleki, Shweta Agarwala and Urszula Stachewicz
Polymers 2022, 14(22), 5043; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14225043 - 21 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2262
Abstract
With the increasing demand for smart textile and sensor applications, the interest in printed electronics is rising. In this study, we explore the applicability of electrospun membranes, characterized by high porosity and hydrophobicity, as potential substrates for printed electronics. The two most common [...] Read more.
With the increasing demand for smart textile and sensor applications, the interest in printed electronics is rising. In this study, we explore the applicability of electrospun membranes, characterized by high porosity and hydrophobicity, as potential substrates for printed electronics. The two most common inks, silver and carbon, were used in inkjet printing to create a conductive paths on electrospun membranes. As substrates, we selected hydrophobic polymers, such as polyimide (PI), low- and high-molecular-weight poly (vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) (PVB) and polystyrene (PS). Electrospinning of PI and PVB resulted in nanofibers in the range of 300–500 nm and PVB and PS microfibers (1–5 μm). The printed patterns were investigated with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and resistance measurements. To verify the biocompatibility of printed electrodes on the membranes, an indirect cytotoxicity test with cells (MG-63) was performed. In this research, we demonstrated good printability of silver and carbon inks on flexible PI, PVB and PS electrospun membranes, leading to electrodes with excellent conductivity. The cytotoxicity study indicated the possibility of using manufactured printed electronics for various sensors and also as topical wearable devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalised Fibers and Multifunctional Fabrics)
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Review

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33 pages, 2517 KiB  
Review
Melt-Spinnable Polyacrylonitrile—An Alternative Carbon Fiber Precursor
by Elena V. Chernikova, Natalia I. Osipova, Anna V. Plutalova, Roman V. Toms, Alexander Y. Gervald, Nickolay I. Prokopov and Valery G. Kulichikhin
Polymers 2022, 14(23), 5222; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235222 - 30 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2699
Abstract
The review summarizes recent advances in the production of carbon fiber precursors based on melt-spun acrylonitrile copolymers. Approaches to decrease the melting point of polyacrylonitrile and acrylonitrile copolymers are analyzed, including copolymerization with inert comonomers, plasticization by various solvents and additives, among them [...] Read more.
The review summarizes recent advances in the production of carbon fiber precursors based on melt-spun acrylonitrile copolymers. Approaches to decrease the melting point of polyacrylonitrile and acrylonitrile copolymers are analyzed, including copolymerization with inert comonomers, plasticization by various solvents and additives, among them the eco-friendly ways to use the carbon dioxide and ionic liquids. The methods for preliminary modification of precursors that provides the thermal oxidative stabilization of the fibers without their melting and the reduction in the stabilization duration without the loss of the mechanical characteristics of the fibers are discussed. Special attention is paid to different ways of crosslinking by irradiation with different sources. Examples of the carbon fibers preparation from melt-processable acrylonitrile copolymers are considered in detail. A patent search was carried out and the information on the methods for producing carbon fibers from precursors based on melt-spun acrylonitrile copolymers are summarized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalised Fibers and Multifunctional Fabrics)
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