Anti-flammable, anti-fouling, anti-bacterial treatment of cotton fabrics with MOF-based hybrid coatings for highly efficient oil-water separation

A flame-retardant and hydrophobic coating was deposited on the surface of the cotton fabric via a two-step spray deposition technique. Specifically, the coating was composed of flame retardant components (guanidine phosphate) and hydrophobic species (Ti-MOF and bis(3-aminopropyl)-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)) and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) of the coated cotton fabrics increased from 18.0 % to 32.0 % (15#) and 26.5 % (15#-Ti-PDMS) relative to that of the original cotton fabric, and the coated cotton fabrics also self-extinguished in the UL-94 flammability test. Compared with that of the original cotton fabric, the PHRR of the coated fabrics was significantly lower, reaching 80 %. The coated cotton fabrics (15# and 15#-Ti-PDMS) had good antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In addition, 15#-Ti-PDMS had high hydrophobicity, good washing and abrasion resistance and good water-oil separation performance. Its water contact angle was 146°. The water contact angle remained above 130° after 10 laundering cycles and 50 scratch cycles. Even under strongly acidic and basic conditions, the water-oil separation efficiency of 15#-Ti-PDMS was greater than 99 %, and it was still greater than 90 % after 10 cycles. Therefore, a simple and effective method for preparing flame-retardant, hydrophobic and antibacterial cotton fabrics was developed.