Synergistic Effect of Screen-Printed Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Phosphorylated Cellulose Nanofibrils on Thermophysiological Comfort, Thermal/UV Resistance, Mechanical and Electroconductive Properties of Flame-Retardant Fabric

Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and phosphorylated nanocellulose fibrils (PCNFs) were used as functional screen-print coatings on flame-retardant (FR) fabric, to improve its thermal resistance and thermophysiological comfort (wetting, water vapour and heat transmission) properties, while inducing it with electrical conductivity and UV protection. The effect of PCNF printing, followed by applying a hydrophobic polyacrylate (AP), on the same (back/B, turned outwards) or other (front/F, turned towards skin) side of the fabric, with and without the addition of 0.1–0.4 wt% SWCNTs, was studied by determining the amount of applied coating and its distribution (microscopic imaging), and measuring the fabric’s colour, air permeability, thickness, mechanical, flame and abrasion resistance properties. Due to the synergistic effect of PCNF and SWCNTs, both-sided printed fabric (front-side printed with PCNF and back-side with SWCNTs within AP) resulted in an increased heat transfer (25%) and an improved thermal resistance (shift of degradation temperature by up to 18 °C towards a higher value) and UV protection (UPF of 109) without changing the colour of the fabric. Such treatment also affected the moisture management properties with an increased water-vapour transfer (17%), reduced water uptake (39%) and asymmetric wettability due to the hydrophilic front (Contact Angle 46°) and hydrophobic back (129°) side. The increased tensile (16%) and tear (39%) strengths were also assessed in the warp direction, without worsening the abrasion resistance of the front-side. A pressure-sensing electrical conductivity (up to 4.9∙10−4 S/cm with an increase to 12.0∙10−4 S/cm at 2 bars) of the SWCNT-printed side ranks the fabric among the antistatic, electrostatic discharge (ESD) or electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding protectives.