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Scientists In Beijing Use Nanotechnology To Give Wool Super Hydrophilic Functions.

2010/7/8 16:08:00 24

Recently, the American Chemical Society Newsweek "

Chemistry makes nature

The "magic fabric" wool is more magical. It reports and comments on the breakthrough progress of scientists in Beijing and Hong Kong using nanotechnology to develop functional wool fabrics.

Wool is praised as "light, soft, warm and so on".

Magic fabric

However, the surface scale structure makes it natural hydrophobic, which is not conducive to anti wrinkle, shrinkproof and dyeing finishing process, and hinders its ability to absorb water vapor, resulting in low moisture absorption and sweat rate. Especially after a lot of exercise, it can easily make people feel hot and uncomfortable.

Although scientists have developed ways to make wool more hydrophilic, they are either of poor stability, no durability, or damage to the natural structure of wool fibers.

How to develop a simple, effective and durable preparation method of super hydrophilic function of wool is a major problem in the field of wool application without damaging the structure of wool fiber.

Tang Fangqiong, a professor of physics and Chemical Technology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a nanotechnology finishing team jointly developed by Professor Li Yi of Hong Kong Polytech University, can make the wool possess "brain", making it a "smart" fabric that can prevent shrinkage and wrinkle, and can "breathe" and release sweat.

The technology has modified the hydrophilic nano thin layer on the surface of wool fiber, which is made up of silica nanoparticles equivalent to 1/50000 of human hair width (see attached figure).

These particles can make the wool super hydrophilic by changing the surface energy and surface structure of the fiber.

Moreover, this new thin layer will not affect the color and texture of wool, and can withstand routine dry cleaning.

The work can not only improve

Wool fabric

Its hydrophilicity and its comfort level are also expected to integrate functions such as shrinkproof, wrinkle resistant, fast drying, bacteriostasis, deodorization, anti ultraviolet and so on, and integrate high-quality "second skin of human body".

This research achievement embodies the perfect combination of basic research and actual demand. At present, it has applied for domestic invention patents and is applying for international invention patents.

Three foreign technology consultancy companies, such as Frost & Sullivan, have contacted the team and are making in-depth investigations into the progress and industrialization prospects of the technology.