Fabrication of Hydrophobic Surface on Eri Silk/Wool Fabric Using Nano Silica Extracted from Rice Husk

Silica nano particles were synthesized from rice husk by alkali treatment followed by calcination. The nano particles were characterized with the aid of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD). The eri silk / wool union fabric was coated with the nano silica by hydrothermal method for achieving hydrophobic surface. The SEM and XRD results inferred that the synthesized silica nano particles are spherical and amorphous in nature. SEM, Energy Dispersive X-rays (EDX), and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) analysis qualitatively and quantitatively confirmed the existence of nano silica on the fabric. The nano silica treatment resulted in the enhancement of water contact angle upto 145 degrees.. The results are further confirmed by spray test and water absorbency analysis. The nano silica treated fabric possessed good fastness to dry cleaning and washing. The highest contact angle of 145 degrees. was observed with the treatment of union fabric with 7.5% nano silica. The AAS results showed 667 ppm of silica on the fabric. The physico-mechanical properties of the silica treated fabric differed marginally from the untreated fabric.