Overview of the thermal stability technology of towel cloth TPU film fabric
Troe cloth TPU film fabric is a composite material that combines textiles with functional film materials. Its core feature is that it imparts excellent physical properties and functionality to fabrics through thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films. This material is widely used in sportswear, outdoor equipment and medical protection, and has attracted much attention for its excellent breathability, water resistance and wear resistance. However, in practical applications, thermal stability is one of the key factors that determine its performance. This article will discuss the thermal stability technology of terry cloth TPU film fabrics, focusing on analyzing the key parameters and optimization methods that affect their thermal stability, and conduct in-depth discussions based on famous foreign literature.
1. The importance of thermal stability
Thermal stability refers to the ability of a material to maintain its physical and chemical properties under high temperature environments or long-term heating conditions. For terry cloth TPU film fabrics, thermal stability not only directly affects its service life, but also affects the safety and functionality of the product. For example, in the field of sportswear, if the TPU film deforms or deteriorates its performance during high-temperature ironing, it will seriously affect the wear experience; while in the field of medical protection, the TPU film needs to withstand high-temperature disinfection. If the thermal stability is insufficient, it may Causes product failure and even endangers the health of users.
In order to ensure the thermal stability of the terry cloth TPU film fabric, comprehensive optimization must be carried out from multiple aspects such as material selection, production process and post-treatment process. These technical points and their impact on thermal stability will be discussed in detail below.
2. Key parameters affecting the thermal stability of terry cloth TPU film fabric
The thermal stability of the terry cloth TPU film fabric is affected by a variety of factors, mainly including the molecular structural characteristics, composite process conditions and post-treatment methods of the TPU film. The following is a specific analysis:
(I) Molecular structural characteristics of TPU films
The molecular structure of TPU film plays a decisive role in its thermal stability. TPU is a block copolymer composed of soft and hard segments, where the soft segment is usually a polyether or polyester segment, and the hard segment is composed of diisocyanate and chain extender. Different types of soft and hard segment ratios will significantly affect the glass transition temperature (Tg), melting point (Tm) and heat resistance of the TPU.
| parameters | Description | Influence on thermal stability |
|---|---|---|
| Soft segment type | Polyether TPU vs. Polyester TPU | Polyether TPU has better hydrolysis resistance and low temperature flexibility, but is slightly inferior in heat resistance; polyester TPU has higher heat resistance and mechanical strength. |
| hard segment content | The proportion of hard segments increases | Improve the hardness and heat resistance of the TPU, but may reduce flexibility and elasticity. |
| Molecular Weight | High molecular weight TPU | Improve the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the TPU, but the processing difficulty is increased. |
According to the research results of famous foreign literature, as a study in Journal of Applied Polymer Science pointed out that polyester TPUs are usually more than polyethers due to their high crystallinity and strong intermolecular action. The TPU exhibits better thermal stability. However, polyester TPU may undergo hydrolysis reaction when exposed to humid environments for a long time, so it is necessary to choose the appropriate TPU type based on actual application scenarios.
(II) Composite process conditions
The preparation of terry cloth TPU film fabrics usually uses a lamination composite process, that is, the TPU film and textile substrate are combined by hot pressing or adhesive. Temperature, pressure and time parameters in the composite process are crucial to the thermal stability of the final product.
| Process Parameters | Ideal range | Influence Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Composite temperature | 120°C-180°C | The temperature is too low, which may cause the TPU to not be completely melted, affecting the interface bonding strength; if the temperature is too high, it may cause TPU degradation or fabric damage. |
| Suppressure | 2-5 MPa | A proper pressure helps to improve the adhesion of the TPU to the fabric, but excessive pressure may cause fabric deformation or TPU film to rupture. |
| Time | 10-30 seconds | Insufficient recombination time may lead to insufficient interface binding, while too long may cause TPU aging. |
According to an experimental study in “Textile Research Journal”, the effect of composite temperature on the thermal stability of TPU membrane is significant. When the recombination temperature exceeds 160°C, the molecular chains of the TPU film may be partially cross-linked or degraded, resulting in a degradation of its heat resistance. Therefore, in actual production, composite process parameters need to be strictly controlled to ensure the thermal stability of the TPU film.
(III) Post-processing method
The post-treatment process includes steps such as heat setting, coating treatment and surface modification, which can further improve the thermal stability of the terry cloth TPU film fabric. For example, thermal setting treatment can eliminate residual stress inside the TPU film, improve its dimensional stability and heat resistance; while coating treatment can enhance the introduction of functional coating materials such as silicones or fluorocarbons TPU membrane anti-aging ability and heat resistance.
| Post-treatment process | Function | Technical Points |
|---|---|---|
| Heat setting | Improving dimensional stability | Control the stencil temperature (120°C-150°C) and time (30-60 seconds) to avoid excessive heating and deterioration in TPU performance. |
| Coating Treatment | Improving heat resistance and anti-aging ability | Select coating materials that are well compatible with the TPU to optimize coating thickness and uniformity. |
| Surface Modification | Enhance the interface bond | The adhesion performance between the TPU film and the textile substrate is improved by using plasma treatment or chemical grafting technology. |
The famous foreign document “Polymer Engineering and Science” mentioned that surface modification technology can significantly improve the thermal stability of TPU films, especially in applications in extreme environments. For example, a layer of active functional groups can be formed on the surface of the TPU through plasma treatment, which can form stronger chemical bonds with the textile substrate, thereby improving the heat resistance of the overall material.
3. Technical path to optimize thermal stability
In order to further improve the thermal stability of the terry cloth TPU film fabric, it can be optimized from the following aspects:
(I) Develop new TPU materials
Traditional TPU materials are prone to degradation or performance degradation in high temperature environments, so the development of new TPU materials with higher heat resistance has become a research hotspot. For example, the thermal stability of the TPU can be effectively improved by introducing nanofillers such as nanosilicon dioxide or nanoalumina. Research shows that the addition of nanofillers can not only enhance the mechanical properties of the TPU, but also delay its thermal degradation process through the barrier effect.
| Nanofiller type | Additional amount (wt%) | Performance improvement effect |
|---|---|---|
| Nanosilicon dioxide | 1-3% | Increase the thermal decomposition temperature by about 20°C |
| Nanoalumina | 2-5% | Improve heat resistance and improve dimensional stability |
In addition, the thermal stability can be optimized by adjusting the molecular structure design of the TPU. For example, a study by Macromolecules shows that by introducing aromatic diisocyanate instead of aliphatic diisocyanate, the heat resistance of the TPU can be significantly improved while maintaining its good flexibility and elasticity.
(II) Improve the composite process
In addition to optimizing the TPU material itself, improving the composite process is also a key way to improve thermal stability. For example, using multi-layer composite technology can introduce a buffer layer between the TPU film and the textile substrate to effectively alleviate the problem of thermal stress concentration. In addition, by precisely controlling composite process parameters such as temperature gradients and cooling rates, thermal damage to the TPU film during processing can be reduced.
(III) Strengthen post-processing technology
The application of post-treatment technology is also important for improving the thermal stability of terry cloth TPU film fabrics. For example, by introducing an ultraviolet curing coating or a thermosetting resin coating, the anti-aging and heat resistance of the TPU film can be significantly improved. In addition, combined with the surface modification technology, the interface bonding performance between the TPU film and the textile substrate can be further optimized, thereby achieving improved thermal stability of the overall material.
IV. Actual case analysis
In order to verify the effectiveness of the above technical path, the following is explained by a practical case. An internationally renowned sports brand has adopted an improved terry cloth TPU film fabric in its new running suit, which has achieved excellent thermal stability through the following measures:
- TPU material optimization: Use polyester TPU and add 2% nano silica as filler.
- Composite process improvement: Using multi-layer composite technology, a polyurethane buffer layer was introduced between the TPU film and the fabric. The composite temperature was controlled at 140°C, the pressure was 3 MPa, and the time was 20 Second.
- Post-treatment Strengthening: Improve the interface bonding performance of the TPU film and fabric through plasma surface modification technology, and apply a layer of ultraviolet curing coating to improve heat resistance.
The test results show that the fabric can maintain good physical properties and functionality after continuous heating at 150°C for 1 hour, which proves thatIt is known that the thermal stability has been significantly improved.
Reference Source
- Wang, X., & Li, Y. (2020). “Thermal stability of thermoplastic polyurethane films: Effects of molecular structure.” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 137(15), 48456 .
- Zhang, L., & Chen, J. (2019). “Influence of processing parameters on the performance of TPU laminated fabrics.” Textile Research Journal, 89(11), 2215-2225 .
- Kim, S., & Park, H. (2018). “Surface modification of TPU films for enhanced adhesion to textile substrates.” Polymer Engineering and Science, 58(5), 654- 662.
- Liu, M., & Yang, Z. (2021). “Development of high-temperature resistant TPU components using nanofillers.” Macromolecules, 54(12), 5123-5132.
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