Functionalization of Cotton Fabric with Vinyltrimethoxysilane

The surface of cotton fabric was successfully functionalized with vinyltrimethoxysilane in order to impart water repellency and wrinkle recovery and to introduce surface vinyl groups (—CH=CH ₂ ) to the fabric, which could then be initiated for copolymerization reactions with various monomers. The introduction of active groups onto the fabric surface was evidenced from the universal attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (UATR-FTIR) spectrum of the treated fabric. The spectrum shows two peaks located at 1410 and 1600 cm ^—1 (C=C stretch). An additional peak located at 756 cm ^—1 attributed to Si—O—Si symmetric stretch was also observed. Excellent water contact angle and wrinkle recovery angle values were obtained.