SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THERMOCHROMIC NANOFIBER COMPOSITION FOR TEXTILE APPLICATIONS.

Abstract

This study focuses on optimizing application methods for nanofiber and thermochromic pigments on textiles, assessing their performance through instrumental analysis, and establishing scientific explanations for the observations. While previous research on thermochromic textiles has focused mainly on qualitative assessments of their functionality, this study aims to evaluate their functionality qualitatively and quantitatively using appropriate instrumental methods. The study focuses on application techniques that enhance the performance of thermochromic pigments with nanofiber on textiles and provide a technical basis and inspiration for creative design applications and other fields. SEM analysis of the electrospun nanofibers from all samples revealed consistent and uniform diameter morphology, indicating that electrospinning is a robust and versatile technique that can produce nanofibers with consistent morphology from various materials. SEM analysis of micro- and nano-thermochromic showed that both materials exhibit a thermochromic effect, changing color from colorless to blue at high temperatures. However, nano-sized particles were found to be more sensitive to heat and reverted to their original state faster than micro-sized particles, indicating that particle size plays a crucial role in determining the thermochromic behavior of the materials. SEM analysis of composite nanofiber + thermochromics in fabric demonstrated that the composite nanofibers were successfully produced with a smooth and uniform morphology. The nano thermochromic and spray thermochromic solutions were evenly dispersed within the matrix of cellulose acetate or PET, respectively, indicating good dispersion of the thermochromic material in the polymer matrix. Additionally, the addition of recycled fabric to the composite nanofiber did not seem to affect the morphology of the composite nanofiber, and the thermochromic material was uniformly distributed within the nanofiber. These results suggest that composite nanofiber + thermochromic in the fabric have potential applications in various fields such as textiles, medical, sensors, and smart materials. TGA results suggest that adding nano thermochromic to cellulose acetate may impact its thermal stability, indicating the need for further analysis and testing to fully understand the nature of this effect and its potential applications. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing application methods for nanofiber and thermochromic pigments on textiles and their potential for various applications.