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Photochromic fabrics with improved durability and photochromic performance
journal contribution
posted on 2008-10-01, 00:00 authored by T Cheng, Tong Lin, P R Brady, Xungai WangPreviously, we have reported a method for producing photochromic wool fabric by applying a thin layer of hybrid silica-photochromic dye onto the wool surface. While the photochromic coating showed a very fast optical response and had little influence on the fabric handle, its durability was poor. In this study, the durability of the photochromic coating layer was improved by introducing epoxy groups into the silica matrix via co-hydrolysis and co-condensation of an alkyl trialkoxysilane compound (ATAS) and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). The presence of epoxy groups in the silica enhanced both washing and abrasion durability or fastness. In addition, the optical response speed was slightly increased as well. Effects of the type of alkyl silane and the GPTMS/alkyl silane ratio on the coating durability, fabric handle and optical response were examined.
History
Journal
Fibers and polymersVolume
9Issue
5Pagination
521 - 526Publisher
SpringerLocation
New York, N.Y.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1229-9197Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2008, SpringerUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Science & TechnologyTechnologyPhysical SciencesMaterials Science, TextilesPolymer ScienceMaterials SciencePhotochromic fabricPhotochromic dyeSilica sol-gelSurface coatingDurabilityWashing fastnessAbrasion fastnessWool fabricNONDESTRUCTIVE READOUTOPTICAL-MEMORYNEAR-FIELDPHOTON-MODEFLUORESCENCESWITCHESCOATINGSFILMSSPIROOXAZINECONTRAST