Abstract:

Self-cleaning polyester fabrics were prepared by a simple gas phase deposition procedure in which a layer of polydimethylsiloxane nanofilaments was grown onto textile fibers. Superhydrophobic and self-cleaning properties, tensile breaking strength, mechanical stability and permeability of polyester fabrics were investigated. The results showed that the fabrics deposited had superhydrophobicity, and the contact angle and sliding angle of the fabric surface were 159° and 1.7°, respectively. The self-cleaning test showed that dust particles adhere to rolling water and shed from the surface of polyester fabric, leaving an extremely clean surface. In addition, the polyester fabric deposited still has excellent breaking strength and permeability. This approach is simple, inexpensive and has little effect on the mechanical properties of the fabric.