Film morphology and orientation of amino silicone adsorbed onto cellulose substrate

A series of amino silicones with different amino values were synthesized and adsorbed onto surfaces of cotton fibers and cellulose substrates. The film morphology, hydrophobic properties and surface composition of the silicones are investigated and characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), contact angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR). The results of the experiments indicate that the amino silicone can form a hydrophobic film on both cotton fibers and cellulose substrates and reduce the surface roughness significantly. Furthermore, the roughness becomes smaller with an increase in the amino value. All these results suggest that the orientation of amino silicone molecule is with the amino functional groups of amino silicone molecule adsorbed onto the cellulose interface while the main polymer chains and the hydrophobic Si-CH₃ groups extend toward the air.