| Summary: |
The main purpose of this project is the design of novel high performance textiles with superhydrophobic/oleophobic and/or thermal insulating properties, through the incorporation of silica nanoparticles (SNPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) onto cotton and polyester fabrics. We will also develop new textile finishing processes that can be scaled up to an industrial level.
Novel SNPs with fine tuned mesoporosities and hollow SNPs will be synthesized and functionalized with organosilanes, by post-grafting and co-condensation methodologies, prior to their incorporation in textiles. Regarding carbon nanomaterials, CNTs, both unmodified or containing acid, basic or neutral groups, as well as functionalized with silanes by post-grafting, will be incorporated in fabrics. Cotton and polyester will be modified by plasma treatments to create oxygen-based groups on their surfaces and increase the surface energy, enhancing their reactivity towards the modification with nanomaterials. The textiles will be functionalized by wet chemical methods: (i) impregnation through covalent post-grafting or physical entrapment, and (ii) in situ functionalization. The hydrophobicity and thermal insulation properties of all functional textiles will be evaluated and compared with those of the unmodified fabrics.
This is a multidisciplinary project which conjugates the expertise of two teams, LCM-FEUP and REQUIMTE-FCUP, with complementary and synergetic knowledge in the areas of Chemistry, Materials Science and Chemical Engineering. This project will also have collaboration with CeNTI (Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, VN Famalicão) in the evaluation of the hydro /oleophobicity and thermal insulation properties of the functional textiles. The students involved in this project will develop skills related with the synthesis of nanomaterials, fabrication of novel textiles, design of novel methods for fabrics finishing and evaluation of textiles properties. They will be introd  |
Summary
The main purpose of this project is the design of novel high performance textiles with superhydrophobic/oleophobic and/or thermal insulating properties, through the incorporation of silica nanoparticles (SNPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) onto cotton and polyester fabrics. We will also develop new textile finishing processes that can be scaled up to an industrial level.
Novel SNPs with fine tuned mesoporosities and hollow SNPs will be synthesized and functionalized with organosilanes, by post-grafting and co-condensation methodologies, prior to their incorporation in textiles. Regarding carbon nanomaterials, CNTs, both unmodified or containing acid, basic or neutral groups, as well as functionalized with silanes by post-grafting, will be incorporated in fabrics. Cotton and polyester will be modified by plasma treatments to create oxygen-based groups on their surfaces and increase the surface energy, enhancing their reactivity towards the modification with nanomaterials. The textiles will be functionalized by wet chemical methods: (i) impregnation through covalent post-grafting or physical entrapment, and (ii) in situ functionalization. The hydrophobicity and thermal insulation properties of all functional textiles will be evaluated and compared with those of the unmodified fabrics.
This is a multidisciplinary project which conjugates the expertise of two teams, LCM-FEUP and REQUIMTE-FCUP, with complementary and synergetic knowledge in the areas of Chemistry, Materials Science and Chemical Engineering. This project will also have collaboration with CeNTI (Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, VN Famalicão) in the evaluation of the hydro /oleophobicity and thermal insulation properties of the functional textiles. The students involved in this project will develop skills related with the synthesis of nanomaterials, fabrication of novel textiles, design of novel methods for fabrics finishing and evaluation of textiles properties. They will be introduced in the emerging areas of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in an applied context.
|