METHODS OF ENHANCING DYEABILITY OF POLYMERS

The invention relates to new methods of dyeing polymers. The methods include dispersing nanomaterials into the polymers to form polymer nanocompositres, and dyeing the polymer nanocomposites with a dye. The invention also relates to dyed polymers thus obtained and articles made from these dyed polymers

Fire retardancy and morphology of nylon 6-clay nanocomposite compositions

We investigated the effect of organically modified clay on the thermal and flammability behavior of nylon 6 nanocomposites. We also used zinc borate along with layered silicate with an aim of achieving synergistic effect in flame retardancy. It is found that addition of 10 wt% clay reduced the onset decomposition (5% wt loss) temperature of nylon 6 by 20°C, while addition of 5 wt% zinc borate and 5 wt% clay in combination reduced it by around 10°C. Differential thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the peak decomposition temperature was not affected by the addition of clay, but the rate of weight loss decreased with increasing clay concentration. The horizontal burning behavior of the nanocomposite films of approximately 0.5mm thickness changed with additive concentration. The nanocomposites with 2.5 wt% and 5 wt% clay burned for almost the same duration as neat nylon 6 but dripping was reduced. The 10 wt% clay nanocomposite sample burned without any dripping and the flame spread rate was reduced by 25-30%. The burn rate of 5 wt % zinc borate/5 wt% clay nanocomposite sample was about 20% higher than that of 10 wt% clay nanocomposite sample, which could be attributed to varying char morphology. Scanning electron microscopy images of the 10wt% clay nanocomposite char surface and cross- section revealed an integrated layer of clay platelets with increasing density gradient from the center to the surface, while the 5 wt% zinc borate/5 wt% clay nanocomposite char appeared foamy and porous. The 5 wt% zinc borate and 5 wt% clay sample developed into a very good intumescent system in cone calorimeter test, swelling about 10-13mm height prior to ignition forming a cellular char structure. This was as effective as the 10wt% clay nanocomposite sample in reducing the heat release and mass loss rate of nylon 6 by around 65%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the 10 wt% clay nanocomposite char showed the presence of amides, indicating possible residual polymer within the shielded char

Fire Retardancy and Morphology of Nylon 6-Clay Nanocomposite Compositions

We investigated the effect of organically modified clay on the thermal and flammability behavior of nylon 6 nanocomposites. We also used zinc borate along with layered silicate with an aim of achieving synergistic effect in flame retardancy. It is found that addition of 10 wt% clay reduced the onset decomposition (5% wt loss) temperature of nylon 6 by 20°C, while addition of 5 wt% zinc borate and 5 wt% clay in combination reduced it by around 10°C. Differential thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the peak decomposition temperature was not affected by the addition of clay, but the rate of weight loss decreased with increasing clay concentration. The horizontal burning behavior of the nanocomposite films of approximately 0.5mm thickness changed with additive concentration. The nanocomposites with 2.5 wt% and 5 wt% clay burned for almost the same duration as neat nylon 6 but dripping was reduced. The 10 wt% clay nanocomposite sample burned without any dripping and the flame spread rate was reduced by 25-30%. The burn rate of 5 wt % zinc borate/5 wt% clay nanocomposite sample was about 20% higher than that of 10 wt% clay nanocomposite sample, which could be attributed to varying char morphology. Scanning electron microscopy images of the 10wt% clay nanocomposite char surface and cross- section revealed an integrated layer of clay platelets with increasing density gradient from the center to the surface, while the 5 wt% zinc borate/5 wt% clay nanocomposite char appeared foamy and porous. The 5 wt% zinc borate and 5 wt% clay sample developed into a very good intumescent system in cone calorimeter test, swelling about 10-13mm height prior to ignition forming a cellular char structure. This was as effective as the 10wt% clay nanocomposite sample in reducing the heat release and mass loss rate of nylon 6 by around 65%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the 10 wt% clay nanocomposite char showed the presence of amides, indicating possible residual polymer within the shielded char

METHODS OF ENHANCING DYEABILITY OF POLYMERS

The invention relates to new methods of dyeing polymers. The methods include dispersing nanomaterials into the polymers to form polymer nanocompositres, and dyeing the polymer nanocomposites with a dye. The invention also relates to dyed polymers thus obtained and articles made from these dyed polymers

Facile Fabrication of Amorphous Photonic Structures with Non-Iridescent and Highly-Stable Structural Color on Textile Substrates

Amorphous photonic structures with non-iridescent and highly-stable structural color were fabricated via a simple one-step spray-coating technique. With this strategy, the obtained films on textile substrates presented short-ordered and amorphous photonic structures (APSs) similar to the amorphous nanostructures of avian feathers. The structural color presented the same hue when viewed at different angles and could be well controlled by varying the diameters of the SiO2 nanospheres. The prepared fabrics with structural color exhibited high color stability due to stability in both the assembled physical structure and the refractive index. The high stability of the assembled physical structure was attributed to the cementing effect of Poly(methylmethacrylate-butylacrylate) P(MMA-BA) existing between textile substrate and SiO2 nanospheres and among SiO2 nanospheres, while the high stability in the refractive index was contributed by the liquid-resistance achieved by both the surface roughness and the low-surface-energy of the as-sprayed APSs. With the resistances to external forces and liquid invasion, the non-iridescent brilliant structural color of the as-prepared fabrics could be kept steady. In this study, an approach of fabricating APSs with non-iridescent and stable structural color was established to enhance its potential application in structural coloration of textiles, and other color-related smart textiles