We present fluorocarbon-free block copolymer brushes as potential systems for dual-action, i.e., soil-repellent and soil-releasing textile finishes. Polymer brushes were prepared by employing specifically engineered triblock copolymers consisting of a hydrophobic, a hydrophilic, and either a central or a terminal anchor block bearing several anchoring groups for sustainable immobilization using the "grafting to" approach on both flat Si wafers and rough cotton fabrics. The switching characteristics of both types of block copolymer brushes were investigated by exposing the brushes to conditions and stimuli that are similar to those applied during laundering in a washing machine and drying in a laundry dryer, respectively. Contact angle measurements were performed to evaluate the polarity and wettability of the block copolymer brushes after treatment in hot water and in air, or in a vacuum at elevated temperatures simulating the washing and the drying procedure of a textile fabric. While the block copolymer brush with the terminal anchor showed only minor changes in terms of the wetting characteristics and the brush morphology upon the applied stimuli, the block copolymer brush with the central anchoring block exhibited a significant change from a hydrophilic (soil-releasing) to a hydrophobic (stain-repellent) surface. This switching behavior was reversible and could be achieved on both, flat Si wafers, and much more pronounced on rough cotton fabrics. Atomic force microscopy and angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigations further indicated a complete rearrangement of the brush morphology. Accordingly, we regard this type of block copolymer brushes as a system that fully meets the basic requirements for an application as a dual-action textile finish, which can be reversibly switched with respect to water repulsion.
Keywords: cotton fabrics; dual-action textile finishes; fluorocarbon-free; thermoresponsive polymer brushes; triblock copolymers.