Source: www.fibre2fashion.com
A Cornell research group led by Juan Hinestroza, the Rebecca Q Morgan ’60 professor of fibre science and apparel design in the College of Human Ecology (CHE), has developed the low-temperature technique for synthesis of superhydrophobic, or waterproof, coatings. This new technique could create waterproof coatings for clothes out of discarded textiles – far safer for humans and the environment than current coatings, which are typically made with harsh chemicals and carcinogens.
This research is an extension of work published in 2023 demonstrating that old clothing could be chemically broken down to reuse polyester compounds to create MOF particles with potential applications in fire resistance, anti-bacterial properties, or wrinkle resistance. The new work is taking this proof of concept and applying it in a direct way, as per the studt
The researchers exposed discarded fabrics to an alkaline depolymerisation process to produce disodium terephthalate, a known linker for synthesis of UiO-66, a popular MOF. They conducted experiments using different amounts of ethanol, and found that with a small amount of ethanol, UiO-66 assembled on top of a polyester and spandex substrate, exhibited superhydrophobic behaviour.
“We must find alternatives to fluorinated finishes, also known as ‘forever chemicals,’” Uyar said. “This study demonstrates how we can achieve functional finishes, including water-repellent and self-cleaning properties, by upcycling textile waste instead of relying on ‘forever chemicals.’”
This research utilised the Cornell Center for Materials Research Shared Facilities, which are supported by the National Science Foundation. Other support came from the Fulbright US student Programme, which is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Korean-American Educational Commission.
