Hydrophobic and thermal behaviour of nylon 6 nanofibre web deposited on cotton fabric through electrospinning

A nylon 6 nanofibre web was deposited on the surface of cotton fabrics using the electrospinning process. The prepared nylon 6 nanofibre-modified cotton fabric showed remarkable hydrophobic and flame-retardant properties. The morphology of nylon 6 nanofibres was examined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the surface topography of electrospun nanofibre was characterised using atomic force microscopy. The cross-sectional view of the layered fabric morphology was observed through high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. The hydrophobicity of the coated fabric was determined through static water contact angle measurement (132.2° for a 10 μl droplet). The flame-retardant properties of the nylon 6 nanofibre-modified cotton fabric and the uncoated cotton fabric were resolved with an inclined (45°) flame-retardant testing machine. Results showed that nylon 6 nanofibre is of a superhydrophobic nature with enhanced flame-retardant properties to cotton fabrics. This work opens up a new possibility for the development of polymer coating on cotton fabrics using the highly reliable electrospinning process.