Thermal properties of silver nanoparticle-filled brown cotton fiber

Authors: Nam, Sunghyun; BAEK, IN-SUCK - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); Hillyer, Matthew; He, Zhongqi; BARNABY, JINYOUNG - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); Condon, Brian; KIM, MOON - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/26/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: This study demonstrated that filling a small concentration of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) (12,500 mg/kg) inside brown cotton fiber greatly changed the thermal properties of brown cotton. A nonwoven fabric fabricated with Ag NP-filled brown cotton fiber effectively transferred heat and lowered the thermal decomposition temperature for cellulose under both nitrogen and air environments. In an air environment, the presence of Ag NPs increased the activation energy for the thermal decomposition of the brown cotton. Ag NPs improved the thermal effusivity of the fabric, rendering it to feel warmer and promoted the heat response of the fabric under heat treatments.

Technical Abstract: Nanocomposite formation for natural fibers without disturbing their natural hierarchical structure has rarely been successful. Here, we filled silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) inside brown cotton fiber while preserving its naturally occurring multilayered structure and examined the changes in their thermal properties. With the use of naturally present condensed tannins, which are responsible for the color of brown cotton, as a reducing agent, Ag NP-filled brown cotton fiber (diameter of about 28 nm, weight fraction of 12,500 mg/kg) was produced by a one-step process without the need of any external agents. A nonwoven fabric fabricated using Ag NP-filled brown cotton fiber effectively transferred heat, lowering the thermal decomposition temperature for cellulose under both nitrogen and air environments. In an air environment, the insertion of Ag NPs increased the activation energy for the thermal decomposition of the brown cotton and promoted the heat release during combustion. Ag NPs lowered the thermal effusivity of the fabric, inducing the fabric to feel warmer than the control brown cotton. Ag NP-filled brown cotton was more effectively heated to higher temperatures than control brown cotton under the same heating treatments.