Facile Synthesis of Chitosan/Nano-silica Microcapsules for Multifunctional Textiles

Microencapsulation technology is a versatile approach that offers effective protection for core materials while also solving issues such as leakage and interface bonding. In this study, a simple yet efficient method for producing multifunctional fabric coatings has been proposed by utilizing chitosan/silica hybrid microcapsules. The synthesis of the microcapsules was achieved through a combination of the single condensation method and the sol-gel method. These microcapsules were specifically designed to encapsulate octadecane and paraffin. The microcapsules were structured with a core-shell configuration, and the shell was functionalized with both fluoroalkyl silane (FAS) and choline phosphate (CP) grafts. The resulting microcapsules were added to silicone resins to produce multifunctional fabric coatings. The desired coatings improved the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of the fabrics, with a hydrophilic side contact angle of less than 10 ° and a hydrophobic side contact angle of up to 156 °. In addition, compared with untreated fabrics, coated fabrics can achieve a temperature difference of over 6 °C, demonstrating certain thermal insulation properties. Moreover, the coated fabric exhibits excellent antibacterial properties, with an inhibition rate of over 98% against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . The proposed method provides a promising solution for developing advanced multifunctional fabrics with enhanced properties. Graphical Abstract