Cellulose fabric with enhanced water absorbance and permeability using microwave radiation: modeling and optimization by RSM

Abstract

Body temperature control is one of the most interesting fields in the smart sportswear. Increasing the available hydrophilic sites on the fabric surface is one of the proposed methods for better thermal regulation. In this article, the cellulose fabric’s moisture absorbance capacity was increased by introducing carboxylate groups on the cellulosic fabric using microwave radiation. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the process conditions. Stoichiometric ratio, microwave power, and duration were taken as independent variables; moisture regain and softness were selected as dependent variables. Results show that modification with 1:1 stoichiometric ratio of the reactant to anhydroglucose unit using 1049 W power for 6 min is the optimum condition for obtaining cellulose fabric with highest hydrophilicity and softness. Water vapor permeability as well as static and dynamic contact angle show that the modified fabric is more hydrophilic and transfers vapor better than unmodified cellulose fabric. Also, tensile test shows that this treatment does not affect the mechanical properties of fabrics. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope were used for fabric characterization.