abstract: Flame retardants (FRs) are applied to variety of consumer products such as textiles and polymers for fire prevention and fire safety. Substantial research is ongoing to replace traditional FRs with alternative materials that are less toxic, present higher flame retardancy and result in lower overall exposure as there are potential health concerns in case of exposure to popular FRs. Carbonaceous nanomaterials (CNMs) such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) have been studied and applied to polymer composites and electronics extensively due to their remarkable properties. Hence CNMs are considered as potential alternative materials that present high flame retardancy. In this research, different kinds of CNMs coatings on polyester fabric are produced and evaluated for their use as flame retardants. To monitor the mass loading of CNMs coated on the fabric, a two-step analytical method for quantifying CNMs embedded in polymer composites was developed. This method consisted of polymer dissolution process using organic solvents followed by subsequent programmed thermal analysis (PTA). This quantification technique was applicable to CNTs with and without high metal impurities in a broad range of polymers. Various types of CNMs were coated on polyester fabric and the efficacy of coatings as flame retardant was evaluated. The oxygen content of CNMs emerged as a critical parameter impacting flame retardancy with higher oxygen content resulting in less FR efficacy. The most performant nanomaterials, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and amine functionalized multi-walled carbon nantoubes (NH2-MWCNT) showed similar FR properties to current flame retardants with low mass loading (0.18 g/m2) and hence are promising alternatives that warrant further investigation. Chemical/physical modification of MWCNTs was conducted to produce well-dispersed MWCNT solutions without involving oxygen for uniform FR coating. The MWCNTs coating was studied to evaluate the durability of the coating and the impact on the efficacy during use phase by conducting mechanical abrasion and washing test. Approximately 50% and 40% of MWCNTs were released from 1 set of mechanical abrasion and washing test respectively. The losses during simulated usage impacted the flame retardancy negatively. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Materials Science and Engineering 2018

Tesis por compendio / [ES] La funcionalización de tejidos permite dotar a estos de nuevas propiedades que no poseen de forma inherente. Por su parte, el grafeno presenta excelentes características en cuanto a conductividad térmica y eléctrica, resistencia y flexibilidad. En esta tesis se evalúa la aplicación de grafeno sobre diferentes sustratos textiles para obtener tejidos capaces de conducir la electricidad y responder a estímulos térmicos, bien disipando el calor o bien transformando una corriente eléctrica en un incremento de temperatura en su superficie. Para ello, se aplica grafeno empleando diferentes métodos recubrimiento con rasqueta e impregnación sobre tejidos de celulosa y de poliéster. En primer lugar, destaca la influencia que ejerce la estructura del tejido sobre la resistencia eléctrica del recubrimiento, dando como resultado que aquellos tejidos con mayor coeficiente de ligadura son los que mejores resultados presentan al tener una superficie más homogénea en la que se deposita el recubrimiento. Asimismo, se halla que la incorporación de materiales de cambio de fase en el recubrimiento con grafeno permite una mayor disipación de calor cuando se calienta el tejido. Además, se consigue calefactar las muestras empleadas utilizando diferentes voltajes eléctricos lo que, a su vez, sirve para evaluar los defectos del recubrimiento analizando las imágenes termográficas. Entre otros hallazgos relevantes también cabe destacar la influencia que ejerce la humedad del sustrato sobre la resistencia eléctrica del grafeno y la importancia del curado térmico de las resinas para asegurar una buena solidez a los lavados. / [CA] La funcionalización de teixits permet dotar a aquests de noves propietats que no posseeixen de manera inherent. Per part seua, el grafé presenta excel·lents propietats quant a conductivitat tèrmica i elèctrica, resistència i flexibilitat. En aquesta tesi s'avalua l'aplicació de grafé sobre diferents substrats tèxtils per a obtindre teixits capaços de conduir l'electricitat i respondre a estímuls tèrmics, bé dissipant la calor o bé transformant un corrent elèctric en un increment de temperatura en la seua superfície. Per a això, s'aplica grafé emprant recobriment amb rasqueta i estampat sobre teixits de cel·lulosa i de polièster. En primer lloc, destaca la influència que exerceix l'estructura del teixit sobre la resistència elèctrica del recobriment, obtenint que aquells teixits amb major coeficient de lligadura són els que millors resultats presenten en tindre una superfície més homogènia en la qual es deposita el recobriment. Així mateix, es troba que la incorporació de materials de canvi de fase en el recobriment amb grafé permet una major dissipació de calor quan es calfa el teixit. A més, s'aconsegueix calefactar les mostres emprades utilitzant diferents voltatges elèctrics el que, al seu torn, serveix per a avaluar els defectes del recobriment analitzant les imatges termogràfiques. Entre altres troballes rellevants també cal destacar la influència que exerceix la humitat del substrat sobre la resistència del grafé i la importància del curat tèrmic de les resines per a assegurar una bona solidesa a les rentades. / [EN] Fabrics functionalization provides them with new properties that they do not inherently possess. Furthermore, graphene has excellent characteristics in terms of thermal and electrical conductivity, resistance, and flexibility. In this thesis, the application of graphene on different textile substrates is evaluated to obtain fabrics capable of conducting electricity and responding to thermal stimuli, either by dissipating heat or by transforming an electrical current into an increase in surface temperature. For this purpose, graphene is applied using knife-coating and screen-printing on cellulose and polyester fabrics. First of all, it is worth highlighting the influence exerted by the structure of the fabric on the electrical resistance of the coating, obtaining that those fabrics with the highest interlacing coefficient are the ones that present the best results as they have a more homogeneous surface on which the coating is deposited. Also, it is found that the incorporation of phase change materials in the coating containing graphene allows for greater heat dissipation when the fabric is heated. In addition, it is possible to heat the samples using different electrical voltages, which also serves to evaluate the defects of the coating by analyzing the thermographic images. Among other relevant findings, it is also worth highlighting the influence that substrate humidity exerts on the resistance of graphene and the importance of thermal curing of the resins to ensure good washing fastness. / Ruiz Calleja, TR. (2021). Funcionalización de textiles mediante la aplicación de grafeno [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/179634 / TESIS / Compendio