Enhancing the interyarn friction properties of kevlar and glass fabrics through ZnO nanowire coating

The interyarn friction properties of fabrics can be enhanced by appropriate surface treatment of fibers. This study focuses on evaluating the interyarn friction properties of Kevlar and Glass fabrics that were coated with ZnO nanowires through different growth cycles. ZnO nanowires were coated onto woven Kevlar and Glass fabrics through a low temperature hydrothermal solution method. Longer growth time coupled with periodic refreshing of growth solution and washing of fabrics was found to be a favorable condition for uniform and precipitate free growth of ZnO nanowires. The effects of ZnO nanowire coating on the tensile and interyarn friction properties of fabrics were measured. In general, after ZnO nanowire coatings, Kevlar fabrics remained equally flexible as that of bare fabric while Glass fabrics became relatively stiff and brittle. The interyarn friction properties of Kevlar fabrics were found to be high under 100 N transverse tension while the transverse tension was found to have negligible or insignificant effect on the interyarn friction properties of Glass fabrics that were used in this research. Compared to bare fabric, Kevlar fabric coated with ZnO nanowires for extended duration showed 266% and 293% increase in yarn pull out load and energy, respectively under 100 N tension. Compared to bare fabric, Glass fabric coated with ZnO nanowires for extended duration showed 517% and 376% increase in yarn pull out load and energy, respectively under 5 N tension. These significant improvements in interyarn friction properties were attributed to mechanical interlocking and accumulation of ZnO nanowires at the intersection of yarns.