Releasing Mechanism of Negative Ions of Impregnated Cotton Fabric

In order to enhance the performance of cotton textiles in generating negative ions (NAI), germanium and pearl powder were utilized as additives, employing a straightforward “ultrasonic impregnation and drying” method to functionalize the cotton fabric surface. For practical application, a functional silane coupling agent (KH-560) was used to modify the fabric’s surface, thereby improving the binding force between the fabric and the functional powders. The study examined the morphology of the functional cotton fabric, NAIs release into the air, thermal stability, and moisture absorption capabilities. Experimental results demonstrated a significant enhancement in NAIs release performance, with a 15-fold increase compared to untreated cotton fabric when functional powders were added. Incorporating germanium powder led to a 2.3-fold augmentation in pearl NAI release, effectively addressing the low pearl NAI release issue. Additionally, the presence of pearl powder, when combined with germanium powder, synergistically enhanced moisture absorption and thermal stability performance, surpassing those of control samples. The developed functional cotton fabric exhibits significant potential for applications in household, healthcare, and clothing textiles, marking a promising advancement in textile functionalization for enhanced performance.