ABSTRACT
We describe a systematic approach for producing cellulose nanofiber (CNF) nanosheets using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. The CNFs were obtained from sulfuric acid hydrolysis of commercially available microfibrillated cellulose. Needle-like CNFs, negatively charged by grafted sulfate groups, were maintained at the air-water interface, assisted by amphiphilic polymer, poly( N-dodecyl acrylamide) (pDDA). The CNFs produced a stable monolayer. The surface pressure increased steadily with a high collapse pressure of 50 mN m-1 when spread with formic acid and pDDA. The composite monolayers were transferred onto solid substrates as Y-type LB films using a vertical dipping method. Upstroke and downstroke transfer ratios of the films were, respectively, unity and 0.88, indicating that full coverage was achieved by the monolayer even for more than 200 layers. Results obtained using atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that CNF nanosheets possess well-defined layer structures with average monolayer thickness of 5.3 nm. The relative amount of CNFs in the nanosheets was calculated as 62.6 wt % using the quartz crystal microbalance technique. The as-prepared nanosheets are optically transparent to visible light and have high hydrophobicity. In fact, the nanosheet transparency was higher than 88% at 600 nm wavelength for 24 layers. A miniscule amount of pDDA enables demonstration of free-standing CNF nanosheets with 1 cm width and 45.6 nm thickness (23 layers).
ABSTRACT
This study attempts to introduce the exploitation of gamma radiation for the processing of cotton knitted fabric. A systematic investigation into the situations suitable for eco-friendly preparation (scouring and bleaching) of cotton fabric was carried out. Fabric used in this experiment includes cotton knitted single jersey structure of 160 gsm. The grey cotton knitted fabric was immersed in different (0 - 30 g/L) amount of hydrogen peroxide solution for 10 min. Subsequently, the samples were irradiated under Co-60 gamma radiation of absorbed dose (5-20 kGy) at a dose rate 5 kGy/h. Water absorbency, whiteness index (WI), weight loss, bursting strength, elongation at burst and dye uptake were taken as the measure of extent of scouring and bleaching performance of the intended fabric. The new technology yielded product with acceptable whiteness and water absorbency which is suitable for pale shade dyeing. The optimum results were achieved for the sample irradiated at a total dose 5 kGy treated with 10 g/L H2O2 solution. The water absorbency and WI value were 2.4s and 39.43, respectively, as well as 82.2% dye exhaustion was obtained having the bursting strength 203.20 kPa for this option. But higher dose of radiation was found responsible for lowering the bursting strength of the fabric. However, the irradiated samples demonstrated the good dye-ability indicating the excellent level dyeing with Bezaktive Red S-3B and Novacron Yellow ST-3R reactive dyes.
