Preparation of self‐adhesive microcapsules and their application in functional textiles

Abstract This work is devoted to the preparation of self‐adhesive microcapsules and their mechanism of mutual sway with cotton fabrics. Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) microcapsules were prepared by ionic gelation method and encapsulated with functional substances (lavender oils) to obtain microcapsules with multiple properties (aromatic). The textile auxiliary guar gum (GG) induce the microcapsules to aggregate into a network structure, which increases the chance of microcapsule adhesion on cotton fabrics. Fe 3+ further enhance the binding of microcapsules to cotton fabrics through coordination, while ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) can disrupt this binding, thus achieving controlled self‐adhesion. During the five self‐adhesive cycles, the weight gain rate of the microcapsules was 16.00%–17.00% and aromatic content between 0.600–0.700 mg/g when they adhered to the cotton fabric by coordination. After EDTA disrupted the adhesion of the microcapsules, the weight gain rate became 3.00%–3.50% and the content of aromatic was 0.041–0.058 mg/g. Therefore, the microcapsules prepared in this study can achieve multiple recyclable adhesion and de‐adhesion on cotton fabrics by Fe 3+ and EDTA, providing new ideas for functionalization and diversification of textiles.