Durable colorful superhydrophobic cotton fabric constructed from modified microcrystalline cellulose prepared by Schiff base reaction

Cotton fabric is widely used for its excellent wearability but often suffers from drawbacks such as poor stain resistance, susceptibility to corrosion, and low colorfastness. Here, we introduce a novel method to create colorful superhydrophobic cotton fabric using octadecylamine-modified dialdehyde cellulose (DAC/ODA) particles as building units, which are synthesized via a Schiff base reaction and subsequently dyed with active dyes. Leveraging the film-forming ability of ODA and the affinity between cellulose materials, DAC/ODA formed a robust coating on the cotton surface, with its microstructure precisely controlled through thermal induction. The resulting fabric (DAC/ODA/Cotton) exhibited exceptional superhydrophobicity, with a water contact angle of 155° and an osmotic pressure of 426.2 mm. The uniform coverage of DAC/ODA on cotton fibers also ensured high air permeability (33.1 mm/s). Additionally, DAC/ODA/Cotton demonstrated outstanding antifouling performance against various common liquids and water can easily remove dust from its surface. Importantly, the fabric maintains its superhydrophobicity under extreme conditions such as high temperature, UV radiation, and acid-base exposure. Even after 100 abrasion cycles, no significant changes in surface morphology and color on DAC/ODA/Cotton were observed. This fluorine-free, environmentally friendly approach offers significant potential for developing multifunctional textiles and coatings with broad applications while reducing environmental impact. Dialdehyde cellulose grafted with octadecylamine was used as the building unit to prepare fluoride-free superhydrophobic cotton fabric with controllable color and durability. • Superhydrophobic particles were created via Schiff base reaction between aldehyde cellulose and octadecylamine. • Controlled colors were achieved using Schiff base conjugation and reactive dyes. • A fluorine-free superhydrophobic coating was heat-induced on the fabric using the phase transition of octadecylamine. • The treated fabric retains excellent air permeability and self-cleaning properties. • The coating demonstrates stable liquid repellency and high color fastness.