Silica xerogel coating on the surface of natural and synthetic fabrics

SiO2 thin films prepared from tetraethylorthosilicate by sol–gel method are coated on the fabric substrates of natural and synthetic fibres. The add-ons and leaching behaviors of silica xerogel coating on the surface of cotton, flax, nylon-66 and poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabrics are studied to compare the interaction and adhesion of the silica coating with different fabrics. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the morphology of surface, BET specific surface area, FTIR-ATR analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the microstructure of fibres are used to characterize the surface changes induced by the silica coating. The results show that the chemical composition and structure of fibres play a dominant role in influencing the adhesion of the coating on the fabric surface.