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Humidity induces changes in the dimensions of hydrogel-coated wool yarns

Polymers (2018) 10(3)
DOI: 10.3390/polym10030260
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Abstract

Polymeric hydrogel based on acrylic acid (AA) and N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) was prepared by photopolymerization reaction, using nano-alumina as the inorganic crosslinker. Hydrogel-coated wool yarns determine their dimensional changes under humidity conditions. Surface morphology of the hydrogel-coated wool yarns was carried out using SEM microscopy. The hydrogel was further characterized by Fourier transformer infrared spectrum (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermogravimetry (DTG). This contribution showed that UV-initiated polymerization coating wool yarns can change the functional properties of wool fibers.

Figures

  • Figure 1. (a) Formation of the initiator radical; (b) Formation of the hydrogel with nano-alumina particles.
  • Figure 2. The procedure of wool keratin yarns coated by hydrogel precursor: from preparation of wool yarns to polymerization reaction (UV irradiation).
  • Table 1. Length, elongation and strength variation of wool yarns samples coated on different hydrogel formulations. The percentage calculated is based on the original length of the yarn (50 mm). Five samples were tested for each sample.
  • Table 2. Length variation of hydrogel-coated wool yarns, after pre-treatment with urea (8 M) followed by hydrogel coating on the surface of wool yarns using UV irradiation to trigger the polymerization. Hydrogel precursor formulations: BIS-AM (0.4% BIS + 1 M AM); BIS-NIPAM (0.4% BIS + 1M NIPAM); Nano-TiO2-AM (15% TiO2 + 0.5 M AM) and Nano-Al2O3–AD (10% Al2O3 + 1% AA + 9% DMAA).
  • Figure 3. (a) SEM microphotographs at 500× and 2000× magnification of hydrogel-coated wool yarn using different hydrogel precursor formulations; (b) Strength and elongation of hydrogel-coated wool yarns.
  • Figure 4. Length variation of hydrogel-coated wool yarns at wet and dry state during five consecutives cycles. Wool yarns were pre-treated with different concentrations of urea and sodium hydroxide: (a) 8 M urea, (b) 8 M urea with 0.0025 M NaOH, (c) 8 M urea with 0.005 M NaOH, (d) 8 M urea with 0.025 M NaOH, and (e) 8 M urea with 0.05 M NaOH during 2 h; after pre-treatment of yarns, UV light was used to trigger the polymerization on the surface of wool yarns forming the hydrogel. Formula of the hydrogel: 10% nano-Al2O3, 1% AA, 9% DMAA, 0.1% photo-initiator.
  • Figure 5. Images of sequential addition of water on hydrogel-coated wool yarns.
  • Figure 5. Images of sequential addition of water on hydrogel-coated wool yarns.

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APA

Wang, L., Cavaco-Paulo, A., Xu, B., & Martins, M. (2018). Humidity induces changes in the dimensions of hydrogel-coated wool yarns. Polymers, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/polym10030260

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