Title
Synthesis of boehmite/organomodified montmorillonite composites by a hydrothermal method: Properties and use for coating cotton fabric
Authors
MING-SHIEN YEN MU-CHENG KUO CHIEN-WEN CHEN JYH-HONG WU and JHENGHONG WU

Received December 29, 2014
Published Volume 50 Issue 7-8 July-August
Keywords boehmite, montmorillonite, cotton, water repellency, hydrothermal method, composite materials

Abstract
In this study, organomodified montmorillonite (m-MMT) was prepared by the exfoliation of montmorillonite with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, followed by secondary exfoliation after ion exchange. Boehmite/m-MMT composites were prepared by treating boehmite sol with aluminum isopropoxide using a hydrothermal method, and mixing the sol with m-MMT. The chemical compositions of the prepared composites were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared analysis, 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Cotton fabrics were coated by using a process of padding, drying and curing. The surface properties of the processed cotton fabrics were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their water repellency, weatherability and conductivity were investigated. SEM analysis showed a uniform coating layer on the surface of the processed cotton fabrics. The water repellency and weatherability of the fabrics coated with boehmite/m-MMT composites improved substantially, and the conductivity increased moderately.