Fabrication of high infrared reflective ceramic films on polyester fabrics by RF magnetron sputtering

In this project, AZO/Ag/AZO and AZO/Cu/AZO multilayer films were deposited on polyester fabrics with radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering technology. The prepared samples were systematically investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Physical properties of the coated fabrics were evaluated by infrared reflection rate, contact angle (CA), air permeability and UPF value. The results indicated that the AZO/Ag/AZO coated polyester fabrics presented a high infrared reflection rate of 95–96% and CA of about 92.5°/93.5°, air permeability of 17.1/15.4 ml/s/cm2 at 100 Pa and UPF values of 40.64/46.67. The AZO/Cu/AZO coated polyester fabrics exhibited an infrared reflection rate of 50–60%, CA of about 88°/88.5°, air permeability of 18.1/17.5 ml/s/cm2 at 100 Pa and UPF values of 41.96/48.437.