In this research a hydrophobic surface of 100%
cotton woven fabric was developed by sol-gel
technique.
Fabric samples were dyed with Drimarene Reactive
Red 5B and Drimarene Reactive Blue BR dyes (0.5%
and 3% o.w.f) and then treated with a combination of
silica nanoparticles, silane hydrophobes
(alkyltrialkoxysilanes), and silane cross-linkers i.e,
tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and teramethoxysilane
(TMOS) by dip-dry-cure process.
After coating, wash durability of dyed samples was
investigated for water repellency and water uptake
according to AATCC standards. The effect of coating
on dyeing behavior was assessed by measuring the
(K/S)λmax value, while change in color (∆E) and
fastness properties of coated fabric also investigated.
It has been observed that durable hydrophobicity
achieved on cotton reactive dyed fabric through nonfluorine
sol-gel route with silica nanoparticles with
better fastness properties with little effect on shade.