Preparation of Hydrophilic Polyphenol-Titanium Dioxide-Modified Polyphenylene Sulfide Fabrics by Composite Deposition Strategy

To enhance the surface hydrophilicity of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) fibers and expand their industrial applications in fire-resistant/radiation-resistant workwear, water electrolysis hydrogen production diaphragms, and fiber paper, this study modified PPS nonwovens using three polyphenols: dopamine, gallic acid, and tannic acid. Specifically, the catechol groups in polyphenols were utilized to adsorb hydrolyzed titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) from an aqueous solution of ammonium hexafluorotitanate, thereby forming polyphenol/PPS/TiO 2 composites materials. The physicochemical properties (e.g., morphology, elemental composition) and surface properties (e.g., hydrophilicity, mechanical performance, etc.) of modified and unmodified fabrics were characterized using a suite of analytical techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle measurement, water absorption testing, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and stress–strain testing. Additionally, the effects of polyphenol type, polyphenol concentration, and reaction time on hydrophilicity of the modified nonwovens were investigated to determine the optimal modification conditions. Results showed that polyphenol modification, combined with subsequent TiO 2 treatment, significantly improved the surface hydrophilicity of PPS nonwovens while preserving their favorable mechanical properties and friction resistance. Among the three polyphenols, the dopamine/PPS/TiO 2 composite exhibited the best wettability: when 2% dopamine (mass concentration) and subjected to 18 h of deposition, the water contact angle decreased from 146.0° (for unmodified PPS) to 51.9°, and the water absorption capacity of the PPS nonwovens increased to 508.4 mL/m 2 /s.