Durable and highly hydrophobic flax fabrics designing via "grafting to" method using catalysed hydrosilylation

Highly hydrophobic flax fabrics with durable properties were prepared via "grafting to" method for self-cleaning application. Flax fabrics were firstly functionalized with vinyl groups using 1,3-divinyltetramethyldisilazane (DVTS). Then, the vinyl functionalized flax fabrics were grafted by poly(hydromethylsiloxane-codimethylsiloxane) (PDMS-co-PHMS) via a hydrosilylation reaction using Karstedt catalyst, between Si -H groups present in PDMS-co-PHMS and vinyl groups present onto the vinyl functionalized flax fabrics. The prepared fabrics were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-rays fluorescence, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and tensile test. The modified fabrics displayed highly hydrophobic properties with contact angle (theta) about 147 degrees +/- 5 and a sliding angle (SA) of about 15 degrees +/- 2, making them ideal for practical self-cleaning applications. Furthermore, good durability with excellent washing resistance was also obtained for these fabrics.