Improvement of thermal stability, flame retardancy, hydrophobicity, tear and wear performance of polyester fabrics with graphene nanoplatelet coating

Abstract

In this study, graphene nanoplatelets were applied to polyester fabrics using the knife-coating method at different concentrations (50, 100, and 150 g/kg). SEM, DSC, and TGA/DTG analyses were performed. The influence of graphene coating on hydrophobicity and surface roughness was examined by water contact angle (WCA) measurement and root mean square roughness, respectively. Abrasion resistance and tear strength tests were also performed. The effect of graphene used as a filler on the flammability of polyester fabric was evaluated for the first time according to the BS 5852 standard. No significant weight loss (only in the range of 0.4%–1.5%) was observed in the graphene-coated samples even after 100,000 cycles. While the WCA value was 0 for the uncoated fabric, the blind coating and maximum graphene-coated sample measured 86° and 95°, respectively. The coating process reduced the roughness of the base fabric, and the decrease continued with the increasing graphene ratio. The tear strength values that were 45.5 N in the warp and 53.6 N in the weft direction in the blind coating, increased to 52.2 and 59.1 N, respectively, at the maximum graphene concentration. Graphene coating enhanced thermal stability, increased hydrophobicity, and improved flame retardancy in the test using a smoldering cigarette.