Treatment of different types of cotton fabrics by ammonium palmitate in a supercritical CO2 environment

Experimental results are reported on the solubility of ammonium palmitate, which is one of potential fabric water-repellent agent, in pure supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and (SC-CO2) modified by acetone and dimethyl sulfoxide. The measurements were performed at temperatures from 308.15 K to 333.15 K, in the pressure range from 10.0 to 32.5 MPa, on an experimental installation using a dynamic search method. Experimental solubility data are described using the Peng-Robinson equation. The results of the treatment of various types of cotton fabrics by ammonium palmitate in supercritical CO2 environment are presented. The main goal of the treatment was to make cotton fabrics water repellent. The water contact angle (WCA), of the hydrothermally treated samples was determined and the increase in their hydrophobicity was found to be in the ultrahydrophobic (WCA > 120 degrees) and superhydrophobic (WCA > 150 degrees) categories.