Preparation of structural color fabrics with excellent antibacterial and superhydrophobic functions

Structural color is expected to replace traditional chemical color due to its advantages of brilliant colors, environmental friendliness and fading resistance. At present, the research of structural color mainly focuses on color saturation and color fastness. Structural colors with specific functions are urgently needed to expand their applications. In this study, poly (methyl methacrylate/ tert -butyl acrylate/[3-(methyl acrylamide) propyl] trimethyl ammonium chloride) (P (MMA/t-BA/MAPTMA)) microspheres containing antibacterial quaternary ammonium salt monomer were synthesized by soap-free emulsion polymerization method. The structural color was prepared on the black polyester fabric by atomization deposition, and then sprayed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to prepare structural color fabrics with antibacterial and superhydrophobic properties. By changing the molar ratio of the monomer, five kinds of P (MMA/t-BA/MAPTMA) microspheres with different particle sizes can be obtained, so as to obtain different structural colors of blue, purple, green, cyan and red on the polyester fabric. The inhibition rates of structural color fabric against E. coli and S. aureus are over 99 % showing excellent antibacterial properties. The water contact angles of structural color fabric after PDMS treatment can reach greater than 150° showing excellent superhydrophobicity. And the superhydrophobic structural color fabric had self-cleaning function. This study provides a new approach and strategy for the development of functional structural color textiles.