Wet sonication system and a method for sonicating a fabric

Abstract

A method for of ultrasonically impregnating nanoparticle into the fabric is provided. Further, systems for use in ultrasonically impregnation of fabrics are also provided.

1 . A sonication system comprising:
 a pre-wetting bath;   a sonication unit comprising:
 at least one first sonotrode; 
 a sonication bath; and optionally at least one second sonotrode; and 
   a delivery system configured to continuously deliver a fabric into the pre-wetting bath, and continuously deliver the fabric from the pre-wetting bath to the sonication bath such that a predetermined distance is formed between the fabric and the first sonotrode.   
     
     
         2 . The sonication system of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-wetting bath and the sonication bath are the same bath. 
     
     
         3 . The sonication system of  claim 1 , wherein the sonication bath comprises an aqueous composition in a form of a dispersion of nanoparticles. 
     
     
         4 . The sonication system of  claim 1 , wherein said system is configured continuously deliver the fabric in the sonication bath such that said predetermined distance is formed between the fabric and the second sonotrode. 
     
     
         5 . The sonication system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance between the fabric and any one of the first sonotrode and the second sonotrode is between about 0.1 to about 1 time of ultrasound wavelength emitted by (i) said first sonotrode or by (ii) said second sonotrode, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The sonication system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance is between about 5 and about 40 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The sonication system of  claim 1 , wherein said system comprises the first sonotrode and said second sonotrode; and wherein the first sonotrode faces a first surface of said fabric, and said second sonotrode faces a second surface of the fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The sonication system of  claim 6 , wherein the delivery system directs the fabric between the first and second sonotrodes, so as to impregnate said nanoparticles into the first surface and into the second surface of the fabric. 
     
     
         9 . The sonication system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sonotrode is configured to provide between 30 to 150 W per 100 cm 2  of said fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The sonication system of  claim 7 , wherein the first sonotrode and said second sonotrode are located within the sonication bath, and wherein the nanoparticles are selected form metal or metalloid nanoparticles, carbon nanoparticles and ceramic nanoparticles. 
     
     
         11 . A method for impregnating a fabric with nanoparticles, comprising:
 a. prewetting the fabric with a first aqueous composition to obtain a wet fabric; and   b. sonicating the wet fabric in contact with a second aqueous composition comprising a dispersion of said nanoparticles to obtain said fabric impregnated with said nanoparticles,
 wherein sonicating is conducted by continuously delivering the fabric at a predetermined distance between the fabric and a sonotrode. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first aqueous composition is similar to the second aqueous composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said sonicating is performed at ultrasonic power density emitted by said sonotrode of between 30 to 150 W per 100 cm 2 . 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined distance is equivalent to a distance ranging between about 0.4 to about 1.5 times of ultrasound wavelength emitted by the sonotrode. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined distance is between 5-40 mm from the sonotrode. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said sonotrode comprises a plurality of sonotrodes located at the opposed sides of said fabric. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the steps of prewetting and sonicating are preformed within the pre-wetting bath and the sonication bath of a sonication system, wherein the sonication system comprises:
 a pre-wetting bath;   a sonication unit comprising:
 at least one first sonotrode; 
 a sonication bath; and optionally at least one second sonotrode; and 
 a delivery system configured to continuously deliver a fabric into the pre-wetting bath, and continuously deliver the fabric from the pre-wetting bath to the sonication bath such that a predetermined distance is formed between the fabric and the first sonotrode. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the nanoparticles are selected form metal or metalloid nanoparticles, carbon nanoparticles and ceramic nanoparticles. 
     
     
         19 . A method for embedding a plurality of nanoparticles on or within a fabric, comprising:
 a. continuously delivering the fabric onto a sonication bath;   b. sonicating the fabric within the sonication bath, thereby embedding said plurality of nanoparticles into said fabric; wherein:
 said sonication bath comprises an aqueous composition comprising a said plurality of nanoparticles and a wetting agent, 
 and wherein sonicating is conducted by continuously delivering the fabric at a predetermined distance between the fabric and a sonotrode. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a concentration of said nanoparticles within said aqueous composition is between 0.1 and 5% w/w. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled)