EP-4735683-A2 - SURFACE-MODIFIED TEXTILES

Abstract

This document relates to textiles. For example, textiles (e.g., water-repellent textiles) as well as methods for modifying textiles to alter one or more properties of the textiles are provided. In some cases, a textile can be modified to be more water-repellent and/or more oil-repellent. For example, a textile containing one or more cellulose fibers can be modified to have one or more charged (e.g., negatively charged) moieties on its surface, and the textile can subsequently be contacted with a surfactant (e.g., a cationic surfactant) to render the surface of the textile more hydrophobic (e.g., more water-repellent). For example, a textile containing one or more synthetic fibers can be produced to have one or more charged (e.g., negatively charged) moieties on its surface, and the textile can subsequently be contacted with a surfactant (e.g., a cationic surfactant) to render the surface of the textile more hydrophobic (e.g., more water-repellent).

Inventors

• CATCHMARK, JEFFREY M.
• ZHANG, KANG

Assignees

• THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240625

Claims (20)

1. 1. A textile comprising cellulose fibers, wherein said cellulose fibers comprise a surface modification comprising surface hydroxyl groups converted to anionic acid groups and further comprising a cationic surfactant attached to said anionic acid groups to modify the surface, and wherein said textile is more water-repellent than a comparable textile lacking said surface modification.
2. 2. The textile of claim 1, wherein said textile comprising said cellulose fibers is selected from the group consisting of cotton, bamboo, coir, flax, hemp, jute, rayon, nylon, and a combination of any of these.
3. 3. The textile of any one of claims 1-2, wherein said textile comprising said cellulose fibers comprises at least 10% cellulose fibers.
4. 4. The textile of any one of claims 1-3, wherein said cationic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of a fatty amine, lauric arginate, octadecylamine, nonylamine, dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride or another salt thereof, N-hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride or another salt thereof, trimethyl stearylammonium chloride or another salt thereof, and cetrimide.
5. 5. The textile of any one of claims 1-4, wherein said cationic surfactant is attached to said anionic acid groups via an electrostatic bond, an ionic bond, or a covalent bond.
6. 6. A method for modifying a textile comprising cellulose fibers to increase its hydrophobicity, wherein said method comprises: (a) contacting said textile comprising said cellulose fibers with a solution comprising an acid to convert surface hydroxyl groups present in said cellulose fibers to anionic acid groups; and (b) contacting said textile comprising said cellulose fibers comprising said anionic acid groups with a solution comprising a cationic surfactant; wherein a positively charged functional group present in a hydrophilic region of said cationic surfactant attaches to said anionic acid groups, thereby making at least the surface of said textile more hydrophobic.
7. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said textile comprising said cellulose fibers is selected from the group consisting of cotton, bamboo, coir, flax, hemp, jute, rayon, nylon, and a combination of any of these.
8. 8. The method of any one of claims 6-7, wherein said textile comprising said cellulose fibers comprises at least 10% cellulose fibers.
9. 9. The method of any one of claims 6-8, wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of chloroacetic acid, phthalic acid, succinic acid, and maleic acid.
10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said solution comprising said acid is an aqueous solution.
11. 11. The method of any one of claims 6-10, wherein contacting said textile comprising said cellulose fibers with said solution comprising said acid is effective to convert from about 0.1% to about 35% of said surface hydroxyl groups present in said cellulose fibers to said anionic acid groups.
12. 12. The method of any one of claims 6-8, wherein said cationic surfactant is a non-toxic cationic surfactant selected from the group consisting of a fatty amine, lauric arginate, octadecylamine, nonylamine, dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride or another salt thereof, N-hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride or another salt thereof, trimethylstearylammonium chloride or another salt thereof, and cetrimide.
13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said solution comprising said cationic surfactant is an aqueous solution.
14. 14. The method of any one of claims 6-13, wherein said attachment is an electrostatic bond, an ionic bond, or a covalent bond.
15. 15. A textile comprising cellulose fibers produced by the method of any one of claims 6-14.
16. 16. A textile comprising synthetic fibers, an anionic surfactant, and a coating attached to at least some of said synthetic fibers, wherein said synthetic fibers contains said anionic surfactant such that negatively charged regions of said anionic surfactant are present on a surface of said textile, wherein said coating comprises a non-toxic cationic surfactant attached to said negatively charged regions, and wherein said textile is more water-repellent than a comparable textile lacking said coating.
17. 17. The textile of claim 16, wherein said textile comprising said synthetic fibers is selected from the group consisting of nylon, viscose, lyocell, modal, polyester, polypropylene, kevlar, microfiber, modacrylic, spandex, and a combination of any of these.
18. 18. The textile of any one of claims 16-17, wherein said anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of a saturated fatty acid, an unsaturated fatty acid, octanoic acid (also referred to as caprylic acid), stearic acid or a salt thereof (e.g., sodium stearate or another salt thereof), sodium octyl sulfate or another salt thereof, and sodium dodecyl sulfate or another salt thereof.
19. 19. The textile of any one of claims 16-18, wherein said cationic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of a fatty amine, lauric arginate, octadecylamine, nonylamine, dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride or another salt thereof, N-hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride or another salt thereof, trimethylstearylammonium chloride or another salt thereof, and cetrimide.
20. 20. The textile of any one of claims 16-19, wherein said non-toxic cationic surfactants are attached to said negatively charged regions via an electrostatic bond, an ionic bond, or a covalent bond.

Description

SURFACE-MODIFIED TEXTILES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 63/523,800, filed on June 28, 2023. The disclosure of the prior application is considered part of, and is incorporated by reference in, the disclosure of this application. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL FUNDING This invention was made with government support under Hatch Act Project No. PEN04602 awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture. The Government has certain rights in the invention. TECHNICAL FIELD This document relates to textiles. For example, this document provides textiles (e.g., water-repellent textiles) as well as methods for modifying textiles to alter one or more properties of the textiles. In some cases, a textile can be modified to be more water-repellent. For example, a textile (e.g., a textile containing one or more cellulose fibers) can be modified to have one or more hydrophilic charged (e.g., negatively charged) moieties on its surface, and the textile can subsequently be contacted with a surfactant (e.g., a cationic surfactant, containing a hydrophilic cationic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety) to render the surface of the textile more hydrophobic (e.g., more water-repellent). For example, a textile (e.g., a textile containing one or more synthetic fibers) can be produced to have one or more hydrophilic charged (e.g., negatively charged) moieties on its surface, and the textile can subsequently be contacted with a surfactant (e.g., a cationic surfactant containing a hydrophilic cationic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety) to render the surface of the textile more hydrophobic (e.g., more water-repellent). In addition, this document relates to textiles having a surface coating of one or more hydrophilic charged (e.g., negatively charged) moieties, and having a surfactant (e.g., a cationic surfactant containing a hydrophilic cationic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety) bonded (e.g., electrostatically bonded, ionically bonded, or covalently bonded) to the charged moieties. In some cases, a textile having a surface coating of one or more hydrophilic charged (e.g., negatively charged) moieties, and having surfactant (e.g., a cationic surfactant containing a hydrophilic cationic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety) bonded (e.g., electrostatically bonded, ionically bonded, or covalently bonded) to the charged moieties can have the ability to repel water. These textiles can be simultaneously oil resistant. Oil resistance can be achieved by positioning the hydrophilic charged moieties on the surface beneath the hydrophobic moiety of the surfactant. These textiles can be simultaneously oil-repellent and water resistant or simultaneously water- repellent and oil resistant. This can be achieved by placing hydrophilic charged (e.g., negatively charged) moieties on its surface, and the textile can subsequently be contacted with a molecule with an oppositely charged moiety on both ends of the molecule (e.g., positively charged) where the molecule has a hydrophobic central region. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Waterproof and water-repellent materials are frequently used in a wide range of applications including clothing fabrics, and various items of socks, hosiery, footwear, upholstery (e.g., fabrics for outdoor furniture), carpets, and window treatments, as well as for industrial textile end uses. Chemical coatings have long been used to create waterproof and water-repellent fabrics. However, research has shown that the chemicals typically used in these coatings can harm the environment or even harm humans, accumulating in both to their detriment. SUMMARY This document provides modified textiles and methods for making modified textiles (e g., water-repellent textiles). For example, this document provides modified textiles (e.g., water-repellent textiles) as well as methods for modifying textiles to alter one or more properties of the textiles. In some cases, a textile can be modified to be more water-repellent. For example, a textile (e.g., a textile containing one or more cellulose fibers) can be modified to have one or more hydrophilic charged (e.g., negatively charged) moieties on its surface, and the textile can subsequently be contacted with a surfactant (e.g., a cationic surfactant containing a hydrophilic cationic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety) to render the surface of the textile more hydrophobic (e.g., more water-repellent). In some cases, a textile containing one or more cellulose fibers can be modified such that at least some of the functional groups (e.g., hydroxyl groups) present in the cellulose fiber(s) are converted to charged (e.g., negatively charged) moieties (e.g., anionic acid groups), and the textile can subsequently be contacted with a surfactant (e.g., a cationic surfactant) to render the surface of the textile more hydrophobic (e.g., more water-repellent). For example, a textile (e.g., a textile containing one or more synthetic fibers) can be