Organic–inorganic hybrid silica film coated for improving resistance to capsicum oil on natural substances through sol–gel route

This study concerns the organic–inorganic hybrid coating of silica sol based on dyed cotton, silk and wool fabrics in order to increase the repellence to capsicum oil via adding methyltriethoxysilane, octyltriethoxysilane, hexadec-ltrimethoxysilane or tridecafluorooctyltriethoxysilane (FAS) in the inorganic silica sol. The dyed cotton fabric treated with hybrid silica sol doped with FAS (F-silica sol, FAS 4 %) presents oil-repellent capability, and the contact angles of capsicum oil on the treated cotton, silk and wool fabrics are 98.5°, 111.59° and 122.15°, respectively. A high FAS concentration (20 %) can improve the oil-repellent ability to 5 grades comparing to the untreated fabrics. The color strengths (K/S) of the coated fabrics change slightly, while the maximum absorption wavelengths of the coated fabrics are the same as the untreated fabrics. Although the drape coefficient of cotton fabric is increased to 54 % from 39 % after coated with F-silica sol, the effect is not significant. Compared to the weight gain rate of untreated cotton, silk and wool samples (1.89, 1.23 and 2.38 %), the weight gain rate of the cotton, silk and wool samples coated with F-silica sol are 6.99, 4.76 and 7.69 %, respectively. The calculated sol–gel weight gains (5.10, 3.53 and 5.31 %) of coated fabrics indicate that the silica coating is subsistent on the fiber surfaces.