Functional Polyacrylate Textile Coatings with N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) Immobilized on Zirconia, Alumina and Silica Sorbents

In this study, polymer films based on the inorganic sorbents Al2O3, ZrO2 and SiO2-phenyl with repellent N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide were prepared and used as functional textile coatings. The high sorption activity of oxides with respect to N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (63–239 mg/g) allows for the use of these compounds as repellent carrier materials, and their mixture with polyacrylates allows for the formation of functional coatings–polymer films. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results revealed that the inorganic sorbents Al2O3, ZrO2 and SiO2-phenyl were successfully anchored in the polyacrylate structure, and the FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of repellent molecules. The thermal diffusion parameters of N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide were also calculated via thermogravimetric analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The highest thermal diffusion rates and concentrations were observed for the material with Al2O3 (up to 148.3∙10−9 mol at 200 °C), and lower values for ZrO2 and SiO2-phenyl (up to 15.2∙10−9 mol and 34.3∙10−9 mol at 200 °C, respectively). The heat flux parameter Jf was also calculated according to Onsager’s theory and Fourier’s law. The release of repellent from polymeric materials can be achieved by applying less heat than that required to reach the boiling point of N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide.