Treatment of different types of cotton fabrics by ammonium palmitate in a supercritical CO2 environment

•New experimental data have been obtained on the solubility of ammonium palmitate, in modified supercritical carbon dioxide, with acetone and dimethylsulfoxide at temperatures of 318.15 K and 328.15 K, within the pressure range from 10.0 to 32.5 MPa.•A correlation of the experimental data was made using the Peng-Robinson equation of state.•As a result of the SC-CO2 impregnation process, implemented under static conditions with respect to five cotton cloth samples, their status as wettable with water has changed to ultra- (θ > 120°) and superhydrophobic (θ > 150°).

Experimental results are reported on the solubility of ammonium palmitate, which is one of potential fabric water-repellent agent, in pure supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and (SC-CO2) modified by acetone and dimethyl sulfoxide. The measurements were performed at temperatures from 308.15 K to 333.15 K, in the pressure range from 10.0 to 32.5 MPa, on an experimental installation using a dynamic search method. Experimental solubility data are described using the Peng-Robinson equation. The results of the treatment of various types of cotton fabrics by ammonium palmitate in supercritical CO2 environment are presented. The main goal of the treatment was to make cotton fabrics water repellent. The water contact angle (WCA), of the hydrothermally treated samples was determined and the increase in their hydrophobicity was found to be in the ultrahydrophobic (WCA > 120°) and superhydrophobic (WCA > 150°) categories.

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