Fabrication and Characterization of Cotton Fabrics with Grafted Thermo-Responsive Random Copolymer Poly(2-(2-methoxyethoxy) Ethoxyethyl Methacrylate-co-Acrylic Acid)

The cotton fabrics with enhanced cleaning capability were prepared by grafting thermo-responsive random copolymer poly (2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxyethyl methacrylate-co-acrylic acid), abbreviated as P(MEO2MA-co-AA), to the amino modified cotton fabrics. ATR-FTIR measurement confirmed the immobilization of P(MEO2MA-co-AA) to the cotton fabrics. Equilibrium swelling ratio indicates that the cotton fabric with grafted P(MEO2MA-co-AA) possesses thermo-responsive ability .The enhanced cleaning capability was investigated by the decontamination experiments probed with confocal microscope. The results show the cleaning capability can be prominently improved when the cleaning temperature is lower than the LCST of P(MEO2MA-co-AA).