Effect of lignin/water-borne polyurethane composite coatings on tensile strength and UV protection properties of PET/PA6 bicomponent nonwoven fabrics

Abstract

This study involves the preparation of water-borne polyurethane (WPU)/lignin composite coating formulations at four distinct unmodified alkali lignin concentrations (1%, 3%, 5%, and 10%) and their application to polyester/polyamide (PET/PA6) bicomponent nonwoven fabrics. These formulations were applied to PET/PA6 bicomponent nonwoven fabrics using a coating applicator and subsequently thermally cured. The properties of the coated and thermally cured fabrics, including tensile strength, hydrophobicity, and ultraviolet light (UV) protection, were investigated. Furthermore, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to analyze the cured films prepared from formulations with varying lignin concentrations. As the lignin concentration increased, there was a notable enhancement in both tensile strength and UV protection factors (UPF). While the hydrophobicity of the surface diminished due to the presence of WPU, higher lignin concentrations resulted in increased surface contact angle values. Despite the decrease in surface hydrophobicity due to the water-based polyurethane, elevated lignin concentrations contributed to higher surface contact angle values. The UV protection values of coated fabrics exhibited a significant improvement compared to untreated nonwoven fabric. The highest UPF value of 30.16 was achieved with the formulation having the highest lignin concentration (10%). This research introduces a straightforward method for creating environmentally friendly and sustainable multifunctional WPU/lignin coatings, offering promising applications in the textile industry.

Keywords

• Bicomponent nonwoven
• Water-borne polyurethane
• Lignin
• Ultraviolet protection

Lignin/su bazlı poliüretan kompozit kaplamaların PET/PA6 bikomponent dokunmamış kumaşların kopma mukavemeti ve UV koruma özelliklerine etkisi

Öz

Bu çalışma, dört farklı modifiye edilmemiş alkali lignin konsantrasyonunda (%1, %3, %5 ve %10) su bazlı poliüretan (WPU)/lignin kompozit kaplama formülasyonlarının hazırlanmasını ve poliester/poliamid (PET/PA6) bikomponent dokunmamış kumaşlara uygulanmasını içermektedir. Bu formülasyonlar, bir kaplama aplikatörü kullanılarak PET/PA6 bikomponent dokunmamış kumaşlara uygulanmış ve ardından ısı ile fikse edilmiştir. Kaplanmış ve ısıl olarak fikse edilen kumaşların kopma mukavemeti, hidrofobiklik ve ultraviyole ışığa (UV) karşı koruma özellikleri araştırılmıştır. Ayrıca, farklı lignin konsantrasyonlarına sahip formülasyonlarla hazırlanan kürlenmiş filmlerin karakterizasyonlarının analizi için Fourier Dönüşümü Kızılötesi (FTIR) spektroskopisi kullanılmıştır. Lignin konsantrasyonu arttıkça hem kopma mukavemetinde hem de UV koruma faktörlerinde (UPF) dikkate değer bir artış olmuştur. Su bazlı poliüretanın varlığı nedeniyle yüzeyin hidrofobikliği azalırken, yüksek lignin konsantrasyonları yüzey temas açısı değerlerinin artmasına neden olmuştur. Su bazlı poliüretan nedeniyle yüzey hidrofobikliğinin azalmasına rağmen, yüksek lignin konsantrasyonları daha yüksek yüzey temas açısı değerlerine katkıda bulunmuştur. Kaplamalı kumaşların UV koruma değerlerinde, işlem görmemiş dokunmamış kumaşlara göre önemli bir gelişme görülmüştür. En yüksek UPF değeri olan 30.16, en yüksek lignin konsantrasyonuna (%10) sahip olan formülasyonda elde edilmiştir. Bu araştırma, tekstil endüstrisinde umut verici uygulamalar sunan, çevre dostu ve sürdürülebilir çok işlevli WPU/lignin kaplamaları oluşturmak için basit bir yöntem sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Bikomponent nonwoven
• Su bazlı poliüretan
• Lignin
• Ultraviyole koruma

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