In order to enhance the water repellence property of cotton fabric, cotton fabric was grafted using hexafluorobutyl methacrylate( HFMT) monomer via atom transfer radical polymerization( ATRP) method. Water repellent cotton fabric was successfully prepared, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy( SEM),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy( FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy( XPS). The SEM images of the HFMT-treated cotton displayed significant difference from the untreated one. FT-IR characterization of the HFMTtreated cotton indicated that HFMT was successfully grafted onto the surface of the cotton fabric. XPS analysis indicated that the fluorine element of the HFMT-treated cotton existing on the surface of the cotton fabric. The surface contact angle test as well as the water repellence rating test showed that the water repellence of the HFMTtreated cotton fabric was much better than that of the untreated cotton fabric. The surface contact angle of the HFMT-treated cotton fabric could reach( 132. 4 ± 2. 2) °,and the water repellence rating could achieve grade 3. The washing durability of the HFMT-treated fabric was also investigated. The surface contact angle of the HFMTtreated cotton fabric could reach( 121. 1 ± 2. 1) ° after 20 washing times. Furthermore, the whiteness, air permeability, breaking strength,and breaking elongation of the HFMT-treated cotton fabric decreased slightly compared with the untreated cotton fabric.Finally,cotton fabric with good water repellence property and excellent washing durability could be obtained with little effect on the intrinsic properties of cotton fabric.
