Surface Modification of Textiles with Nanomaterials …
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I. Metal and Metal Oxide Fabrics
Development of metal fabrics will be prepared from conductive elements [129] such
as nickel, ferrous materials, titanium, zinc, aluminium and copper. These elements
possess thin layered structures, with a diameter of 1–80 μm [129]. Although these
materials have a high electrical conductivity, heavy weight, massive cost for manufacturing, and inability to produce uniform fibre bends than other surface modification
materials. Metal oxide materials are often nearly colourless; so, that the usage of conducting materials onto the fabrics has been considered to overcome fewer problems
associated with conducting carbon derivatives. Nanostructured metal oxide materials
can be incorporated on the surface of the fabric, or into the sheath–core of the fibre,
or chemically reacted with the source material present on the surface of fabric. Conductive fibers can also be modified by surface coatings techniques with pristine metal
precursors such as copper iodide, copper sulfide and zinc acetate. Notwithstanding
the fact that metallic materials can promote the conductivity of fibers present in the
fabric with enhanced adhesion, these materials are limited by their ability to undergo
corrosion.
II. Fabrics Containing Conductive Carbon
For the development of conductive fabrics using carbon derivatives, several methods such as chemical bath deposition, electrospinning, electroplating, evaporation
deposition and sputtering deposition techniques have been adapted [129]. In these
surface modification techniques, the source material is loaded with the higher concentrations of carbon content. Also, carbon could be incorporated into the core of a
sheath–core bicomponent fabric via electrospinning technique. Few surface modifying techniques, such as sputtering, evaporation techniques can be utilized for the
incorporation of source materials to the side/side fabric.
III. Conductive Polymers
Conductive fabrics can be prepared with spinning the fabric fibers with metallic materials such as zinc, copper, aluminium, silver or gold foil and can be used to produce
electrically conductive fibers [56]. Conductive threads prepared using electrospinning technique possess inherent tensile and stiffness properties than conductive yarns
[158]. These prepared conductive fibers can be stitched together to develop e-textiles.
Similar surface modification processes [129] such as electrode-less plating, sputtering and chemical bath deposition with a conductive polymer by loading fibres and
carbonising could be used to furnish conductive coatings to the surface of the fabrics.
Electrode-less plating can produce a uniform surface deposition using conductive
materials, but this technique is expensive. Physical vapour deposition techniques such
as RF/DC magnetron sputtering and thermal evaporation techniques could promote
a uniform deposition with enhanced adhesion as well. Fabrics modified with conductive polymers such as polyacrylonitrile and polypyrrole showed better properties
than metals with regards to adhesion. Though it possesses good adhesion characteristics, the growth/modification are difficult to process using conventional surface
modification techniques.
33
I. Metal and Metal Oxide Fabrics
Development of metal fabrics will be prepared from conductive elements [129] such
as nickel, ferrous materials, titanium, zinc, aluminium and copper. These elements
possess thin layered structures, with a diameter of 1–80 μm [129]. Although these
materials have a high electrical conductivity, heavy weight, massive cost for manufacturing, and inability to produce uniform fibre bends than other surface modification
materials. Metal oxide materials are often nearly colourless; so, that the usage of conducting materials onto the fabrics has been considered to overcome fewer problems
associated with conducting carbon derivatives. Nanostructured metal oxide materials
can be incorporated on the surface of the fabric, or into the sheath–core of the fibre,
or chemically reacted with the source material present on the surface of fabric. Conductive fibers can also be modified by surface coatings techniques with pristine metal
precursors such as copper iodide, copper sulfide and zinc acetate. Notwithstanding
the fact that metallic materials can promote the conductivity of fibers present in the
fabric with enhanced adhesion, these materials are limited by their ability to undergo
corrosion.
II. Fabrics Containing Conductive Carbon
For the development of conductive fabrics using carbon derivatives, several methods such as chemical bath deposition, electrospinning, electroplating, evaporation
deposition and sputtering deposition techniques have been adapted [129]. In these
surface modification techniques, the source material is loaded with the higher concentrations of carbon content. Also, carbon could be incorporated into the core of a
sheath–core bicomponent fabric via electrospinning technique. Few surface modifying techniques, such as sputtering, evaporation techniques can be utilized for the
incorporation of source materials to the side/side fabric.
III. Conductive Polymers
Conductive fabrics can be prepared with spinning the fabric fibers with metallic materials such as zinc, copper, aluminium, silver or gold foil and can be used to produce
electrically conductive fibers [56]. Conductive threads prepared using electrospinning technique possess inherent tensile and stiffness properties than conductive yarns
[158]. These prepared conductive fibers can be stitched together to develop e-textiles.
Similar surface modification processes [129] such as electrode-less plating, sputtering and chemical bath deposition with a conductive polymer by loading fibres and
carbonising could be used to furnish conductive coatings to the surface of the fabrics.
Electrode-less plating can produce a uniform surface deposition using conductive
materials, but this technique is expensive. Physical vapour deposition techniques such
as RF/DC magnetron sputtering and thermal evaporation techniques could promote
a uniform deposition with enhanced adhesion as well. Fabrics modified with conductive polymers such as polyacrylonitrile and polypyrrole showed better properties
than metals with regards to adhesion. Though it possesses good adhesion characteristics, the growth/modification are difficult to process using conventional surface
modification techniques.