Raman Spectroscopy in the Analysis of Textile Structures

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy as a non-destructive technique is very often used to analyze a historic or forensic material. It is also a very valuable method of testing textile materials, especially modified and functionalized. In the case of textiles, the advantages of this technique is the compatibility inter alia with FTIR, which is helpful in natural fibers identification or to distinguish between isomers and conformers of synthetic fibers. The work shows the possibility of special application of the Raman spectroscopy to the characterization of textile materials after modification and functionalization with nanoparticles. A functionalized textile structure with a metallic surface can provide a good basis for analytical studies using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy as it was presented on the example of wool, cotton and aramid fibers.

1. Introduction

Raman spectroscopy is complementary method to FTIR Spectroscopy as both methods are based on detection of molecule vibrations. These spectroscopic techniques have different mechanism of vibrations detection and different physical phenomena are studied. Vibrations modifying the dipole moment of a molecule are active in IR spectroscopy, whereas vibrations modifying the polarizability of a molecule (i.e. stretching of C-C or C=C groups) are detected by Raman technique [1]. That is why Raman spectrum brings information about polymer backbone structure, conformation, orientation, crystallinity, density, etc. All this causes that Raman spectroscopy is a very useful tool in the analysis of polymers. As the intensity of Raman scattering does not depend directly on the volume of the tested sample application of the optical microscope together with the Raman spectrometer allows analysis of very small samples, including nanoparticles. Samples once studied in Raman spectrometer could be given for additional analysis by other techniques, if it is necessary. Therefore Raman spectroscopy is a valuable tool in analysis of ancient materials or forensic samples and also can be successfully applied in the textile materials study. Modern Raman spectrometers equipped with advanced software and volume mapping system allow the characterization of textile materials containing nanoparticles, their distribution on the surface of the material and inside the fiber analyzing its cross-section as well as in the case of colored materials, distribution of dyes, metal-dye interactions on the surface and inside the fiber structure [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. The functionalization with metal nanoparticles and metal oxides plays now a special role, as it offers the possibility of giving textile products such properties as: bioactivity, UV protection, catalytic or conductive properties [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]. Knowledge of the structure of the fibers, their physical, chemical properties as well as surface characteristics [2, 3, 4, 5, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20] is extremely important in carrying out any modification. Application of nanoparticles is closely related to the use of advanced research methods necessary for the analysis of modified surfaces. Research on the fibrous structures modification using nanoparticles is the another area of analysis in which Raman spectroscopy can be successfully applied. Furthermore presence of noble metal nanoparticles on the fiber surface affects its Raman spectrum causing the effect of strengthening the Raman signal from the fiber itself and the contained substances (e.g. dye, modifier) [21, 22, 23]. Thus functionalized textile structure can be a good substrate for analytical studies using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

2. Raman spectra of textile fibers

Raman spectroscopy, in general, is limited by fluorescence which often hides the Raman effect. However thanks to development of electronics and computing brought the possibility of Raman scattering enhancement, fluorescence minimalization, application different light sources in Raman spectrometers [24] significantly broadened analytical applications of this technique [25]. All Raman spectra presented in this chapter are performed on Raman Renishaw In via dispersive Spectrometer with Leica microscope. CCD detector of high quantum efficiency and extremely low intrinsic noise enabled to obtain Raman signal from textile substrate and 785 nm light excitation allowed overcome the fluorescence. Raman spectroscopy provides information about the structure of the fiber, e.g. the degree of crystallinity. Raman inter alia plays an important role in the analysis of hygroscopic fibers because, unlike FTIR, water does not affect the spectrum and is very useful in analysis of organic systems with C-C or C=C bonding.

2.1 Natural fibers

Cotton is the most commonly used natural plant fiber and the second most popular fiber, next to polyester [26]. The main component of the cotton fiber is cellulose over 88%, other component pectin, wax, proteins and other organic materials do not exceed 2% [27]. In Raman spectrum (Figure 1) the most intense bands are the stretching vibrations of symmetric and asymmetric COC glycosidic ring breathing, skeletal stretching; at 1099 cm⁻¹ asymmetric and 1125 cm⁻¹ symmetric. Another vibrations characteristic for cotton are at: 331 and 381 cm⁻¹ of CCC ring deformations bending, at 438 and 460 cm⁻¹ of CCC, CCO ring deformation and skeletal bending, at 520 cm⁻¹ COC glycoside linkage and CCC ring deformation bending, at 901,1001 cm⁻¹ HCC, HCO skeletal rotating. Stretching vibrations of CC and CO of glycosidic ring are at 1156 cm⁻¹. Cluster of bands in the region between 1200 and 1500 cm⁻¹ concerns the CH₂ twisting at 1297 cm⁻¹, CH₂ wagging 1341 cm⁻¹, CH₂ bending at 1384 cm⁻¹, CH₂ bending scissors at 1484 cm⁻¹ [28, 29]. In this cluster should be also bending vibrations of alcohol COH that are overlapped. In the spectrum there are also present stretching bands of CH vibrations at 2903 cm⁻¹.

Figure 1.

Raman spectrum of cotton fiber.

Wool and silk are animal protein fibers [30]. Wool consists mainly of keratin which is sulfur possessing protein. Silk consists mainly of fibroin protein. In analysis of wool and silk, by vibrational spectroscopy techniques, Raman spectroscopy is the method that allows for their unambiguous identification. IR Spectra of wool and silk are very similar (Figure 2). No significant differences, even in fingerprint region could be observed, even differences in relative peak intensities or wavenumber shifts are very subtle. Only the band shapes in the area over 2900 cm⁻¹distinguishes these fibers. However these slight differences are visible when the wool and silk spectra are aligned as it is shown in Figure 2a and b. Therefore, the use for the fiber identification the complementary method is recommended.

Figure 2.

IR spectrum of: a) wool, b) silk.

The Raman measurement on wool and silk will help to distinguish between the two protein fibers, as the spectra obtained are clearly different (Figure 3a and b). This is possible thanks to the sensitivity of this technique to differences in the organic structures, in this case the sequence of amino acids [30]. Silk fibroin is the protein mainly consists of alanine (44,1%) and glycine (26,5%). There are also present in smaller amounts serine (11,8%), tyrosine (4,9%), aspartic acid (4,7%) and arginine (2,6%). The content of other amino acids does not exceed 1%, and, at the same time there is no cysteine, that is one the basic components of wool keratin. Wool keratin in the protein that mainly consists of glutamic acid (11,9,%), serine (10,4%), cysteine (10,3%), glycine (8,4%), leucine (7,7%), arginine (6,9%), proline (6,6%) and other amino acids [31]. The different sequence of amino acids directly translates into different Raman characteristics and the fingerprint of wool and silk differ substantially. The most important observed feature in Raman spectrum of wool is the presence of band at 512 cm⁻¹ characteristic to S-S disulphide bridge coming from cysteine [31, 32].

Figure 3.

Raman spectrum of: a) wool, b) silk.

While in case of silk there is sequence of amino acids skeletal vibrations in the region of 100–500 cm⁻¹ and the dominating band of amide CH₂ bending at 1228 cm⁻¹ [33]. The more detailed description of wool and silk Raman characteristic bands is listed in Table 1.

Wool [21]		Silk [23]
Raman shift [cm^−1]	Description	Raman shift [cm^−1]	Description
512	SS stretching	117,249, 271, 339, 414, 499	CCC def CCN, combinations of backbone deformations with pendant chains
643	CS stretching	643	NCH bending Amid IV
752	CCC, stretching	752	CH2 CH3 skeletal alanine
852	CH2, HCS bending, CCOO^− stretching	853	CC skeletal tyrosine
		978	CH2
925	C-C skeletal bending	1003	CH2 bending
1003	NCH bending	1085	CC skeletal
1210	NH deformation, C-N elonging	1228	CH2 bending Amid III
1311,1463	CH2 bending, COO^− bending	1402	CH2 bend
1514, 1631	CH, NH bending	1453	CH2 bending scissors
1665	C=O, COO^− stretching (Amide I)	1616	C=C stretching (Tyrosine)
2931, 2959	CH stretching	1667	Amide I
		2935	CH stretching

Table 1.

Raman characteristic bands of wool and silk.

2.2 Synthetic fibers

Today most textile products are made of synthetic fibers (approx. 62%) [26], therefore they are the subject of research, including functionalization. Over the 50% of all fibers on the world market are polyester fibers (PET) Another popular synthetic fibers are nylon, acrylic, polypropylene, aromatic polyamides: meta- and para-aramid. Aramid fibers due to their properties, such flame retardance, mechanical or thermal resistance are the class of heat resistant, flame retardant and strong synthetic fibers. They are important in military applications i.e. for firefighters clothing or bullet resistant vests [34]. In the case of synthetic polymers, it is also important, that the intensity of Raman scattering is stronger than fluorescence. Raman spectra of Polyester (PET), nylon fibers (Polyamide 6 (PA 6) and Polyamide (6.6 PA 6.6), polypropylene (PP), polyacrylic fiber (PAN), meta-aramid (mAr) and para-aramid (pAr) are presented below and discussed.

In Raman spectrum of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber [35, 36, 37] there are two dominating very intense bands: at 1615 cm⁻¹ that is C-C aromatic ring and at 1728 cm⁻¹ – carbonyl C=O stretching. Another characteristic bands of PET are: 278 cm⁻¹ deformation skeletal C-C, 702 cm⁻¹ ring C-C stretch, 859 cm⁻¹ C-C, COC bending, 998 cm⁻¹, 1096 cm⁻¹ C-O and C-C stretch, 1181 cm⁻¹ C-C ring stretch, 1289 cm⁻¹ CO-O stretch, 1416, 1463 cm⁻¹ CH₂ bending. Band at 142 cm⁻¹ belongs to TiO₂ which is often used in the processing of the fiber, as a matting agent.

Raman spectrum of PET gives information about the polymer form. Textile polymers are not 100% crystalline, they also have amorphous areas, therefore the degree of crystallinity is determined for them. In the crystalline state the ethylene glycol units of PET have a trans structure while the amorphous state PET has a gauche structure of the ethylene glycol units [35]. An intense peak at 1,096 cm⁻¹ indicates that analyzed PET fiber is in crystalline form. However, the carbonyl band at 1728 cm⁻¹ is considered a better marker of crystallinity [35]. The highly crystalline samples give a narrow carbonyl peak; whereas for the amorphous the band width is demonstrably broader. In presented spectrum (Figure 4) peak at 1728 cm⁻¹ is narrow, so the crystalline form is confirmed.

Figure 4.

Raman spectrum of PET fiber.

Polyamides are polymers in which an amide group -NH-CO- joins the monomer units. Two most important commercially textile polyamides are Polyamide 6 (PA 6) and Polyamide 6.6 (PA 6.6). In both polyamides the monomeric units contains six carbon atoms. They can be distinguished most easily by examining the melting point. However, these analysis requires destruction of the sample. Raman spectroscopy is in this case very good method for polyamide type identification, used in practice i.e. in the carpet recycling [38]. Raman Spectrum of PA 6 (Figure 5a) shows CC deformation at 643 cm⁻¹, CCO stretching at 935 cm⁻¹, CC skeletal stretching at 1066, 1084 and 1132 cm⁻¹, CN stretching and NH bending of amide III at 1298 cm⁻¹, CH₂ twisting at 1308 cm⁻¹, CH₂ bending at 1448 cm⁻¹, 1643 cm⁻¹ C=O stretching and CH stretching at 2942 cm⁻¹ [39].

Figure 5.

Raman spectrum of polyamide fibers: a) PA 6, b) PA6.6.

There is also present band at 143 cm⁻¹ of TiO₂ used in fiber processing. While in the Raman spectrum polyamide 6.6 (Figure 5b) CC deformation at 643 cm⁻¹, CCO stretching at 957 cm⁻¹, CC skeletal stretching at 1059 and 1134 cm⁻¹, NH deformation at 1238 cm⁻¹, twisting at 1302 cm⁻¹, CH₂ bending at 1446 cm⁻¹, 1643 cm⁻¹ C=O stretching and CH stretching at 2882 cm⁻¹ are present [39]. The Raman spectra of both polyamides differ from each other the presence of three skeletal CC bands (1066, 1084 and 1132 cm⁻¹) in the case of PA 6 and two CC skeletal bands (1059 and 1134 cm⁻¹) in the case of PA 6.6. Moreover PA 6,6 spectrum does not have an amide III band (C–N stretching and N–H bending) at 1298 cm⁻¹, which is present in PA 6 spectrum.

Polypropylene fibers are the most commercially important polyolefin fibers, whose polymer chain consists of olefin units. Raman spectrum of PP (Figure 6) contains: CH₂-CH-CH₃ torsions in the polymer backbone at 107 and 175 cm⁻¹ [40], CH₂ wagging and CH bending at 251 and 399 cm⁻¹, CH₂ wagging and CH bending at 320 and 455 cm⁻¹, CH₂ wagging, CH₂ bending and CCH₃ stretching at 528 cm⁻¹, CC backbone stretching, CH₂ wagging, CCH₃ stretching at 809 cm⁻¹, CC backbone stretching, CH₂ wagging, CCH₃ stretching, CH₃ bending at 847 cm⁻¹, CC backbone stretching, CH₃ rocking at 947 cm⁻¹, CH₃ rocking, CH₂ wagging, CH bending at 999 cm⁻¹, CC backbone stretching, CCH₃ stretching, CH bending at 1038 cm⁻¹, CC backbone stretching, CCH₃ stretching, CH bending and CH₃ bending at 1153 cm⁻¹, CC backbone stretching, CH bending and CH₂ twisting at 1219 cm⁻¹, CH bending, CH₃ symmetric bending at 1361 cm⁻¹, CH₃ asymmetric bending at 1436 cm⁻¹, CH₃ asymmetric bending and CH₂ bending at 1460 cm⁻¹, symmetric CH₂ stretching at 2726 cm⁻¹, symmetric CH₃ stretching at 2844 cm⁻¹ and 2887 cm⁻¹, asymmetric CH₃ stretching and 2955 cm⁻¹ [41].

Figure 6.

Raman spectrum of PP fiber.

The skeleton C-C vibrations of PP are sensitive to conformation effects, thus the vibrations at 809 cm⁻¹ and 842 cm⁻¹ are connected to crystallinity of PP. The band at 809 cm⁻¹ corresponded to vibrations of the crystalline moieties, whereas the band at 842 cm⁻¹ to non-crystalline part [42].

Polyacrylic fibers used in the manufacturing of textiles are composed of at least 85% by weight of polyacrylonitrile and 4–10% of non-ionic comonomer and 0,5–1% of an ionic co-monomer [43]. This is due that fibers produced from 100% polyacrylonitrile have poor elasticity and they are difficult to dye [44]. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is produced by the polymerization of cyanoethene and nitrile CN group is the characteristic element of this polymer. In IR spectroscopy is the very useful method in the subclasses of acrylic distinguishing the additional comonomers and additives [39]. In Raman spectrum mostly polyacrylic polymer is visible. Presence of another monomers is not evident in Raman spectrum, they show only minor variations in band shapes [39].

In the Raman spectrum of PAN fiber (Figure 7) the dominant band is the nitrile CN stretching band at 2245 cm⁻¹. Another characteristic bands of PAN concern the CH₂ bending at 1455 cm⁻¹, CH bending at 1314 cm⁻¹, CN twisting at 1225 cm⁻¹, CC skeletal stretching at 1118 and 1102 cm⁻¹, CH₂ twisting and CCN stretching at 829 cm⁻¹, CN wagging and bending 638 cm⁻¹, CN bending at 516 cm⁻¹, CC backbone deformation at 397 cm⁻¹ and 283 cm⁻¹. Band at 142 cm⁻¹ belongs to TiO₂ used in fiber processing. Weak carbonyl band at 1737 cm⁻¹ belongs to vinyl acetate monomer [39].

Figure 7.

Raman spectrum of PAN fiber.

Aramid fibers are made from aromatic polyamide polymers. Aramid chains possess amide groups which are directly connected to two aromatic rings: meta aramid (mAr) contains m-disubstituted benzene rings, para aramid (pAr) contains p-disubstituted benzene rings. Raman spectra of aramid fibers (Figure 8) are presented in the range 100–2000 cm⁻¹ for better readability, as no bands were recorded in the 2000–3000 cm⁻¹ area. Lack of the bands in the 2900–3200 cm⁻¹ region characteristic of CH and NH stretching vibrations was interpreted to be due an orientational effects [45]. In the spectra of meta aramid (Figure 8a) characteristic Raman bands occur at 115 cm⁻¹ (CC in-plane bending), at 192 cm cm⁻¹ (ring out of plate CCC bending vibration), at 278 cm⁻¹ (ring CCC asymmetric deformation, CN in-plane bending), at 659 cm⁻¹ (ring puckering deformation, ring bending and asymmetric torsion, CH out-of-plane deformation), at 1003 cm⁻¹ (trigonal ring breathing vibration CH in plane bending, ring and ring CH deformation), at 1250 cm⁻¹ (NH bending and CN stretching), 1339 cm⁻¹ (CH in-plane deformation), at 1420 and 1442 cm⁻¹ (ring puckering vibration, aromatic CH bending), 1488 cm⁻¹ (CH in-plane and NH in-plane bending), at 1547 cm⁻¹ (NH in-plane bending), at 1606 cm⁻¹ (CC aromatic ring stretching), at 1655 cm⁻¹ (amide stretch C=O). In the spectrum of pAr (Figure 8b) characteristic Raman bands occur at 154 cm⁻¹, at 633 cm⁻¹ (CC ring in plane deformation), at 698 cm⁻¹ (CH out-of-plane deformation; CO bending), at 739 cm⁻¹ (CO in-plane bending; ring asymmetric CH deformation; CN stretching), at 789 cm⁻¹ (CH out-of-plane deformation, CCC ring puckering deformation), at 845 cm⁻¹ (CH out-of-plane deformation; ring CC stretching, ring bending and asymmetric torsion), at 919 cm⁻¹ (ring out-of-plane bending, CH in-plane bending, CH in-plane ring bending mode, CC stretching), 1186 cm⁻¹ (ring CH deformation), at 1280 cm⁻¹ (NH bending and CN stretching, CC stretching), at 1332 cm⁻¹ (ring CH bending, ring CC stretching), at 1414 cm⁻¹ (symmetric ring puckering/aromatic CH in-plane), at 1520 cm⁻¹ (ring CH bending), at 1576 cm⁻¹ (amide II vibration, bend (NH) and stretch (CN), ring CC stretching; NH bending), at 1615 cm⁻¹ (aromatic ring CC stretching), 1655 cm⁻¹ amide I (CO stretching) [45].

Figure 8.

Raman spectrum of aramid fibers: a) mAr, b) pAr.

Thus mAr could be identified by three characteristic Raman bands concerning CCC ring bending vibrations (at 115, 192 and 278 cm⁻¹), and the presence intense band of ring breathing vibration (at 1003 cm⁻¹). Spectrum of pAr exhibits characteristic Raman bands associated with p-substituted benzenes and may be identified by strong band at 154 cm⁻¹ (unassigned), ring deformation bands at 789 cm⁻¹ and 1182 cm⁻¹, NH bending and CN stretching band at 1280 cm⁻¹, ring CH bending and CC stretching at 1332 cm⁻¹ and the intense band of aromatic ring CC stretching at 1615 cm⁻¹. The Raman spectroscopy is a very good method for nondestructive and unambiguous identification of the aramid fibers as the spectra of mAr are sufficiently different from those of the pAr to enable a definitive distinguishing.

3. Textile modified structures

Growing market demand for functional textile materials has followed the development of research on the fibrous structures modification using nanoparticles [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23]. Modern multi-functional textiles are based very often on fibers surface modified with nanoparticles. The most extensively studied nanomaterial for textile modification is nanosilver. Over 200 publications a year concerning the textile functionalization by nanosilver appeared between 2015 and 2020 [46]. The second most studied nanoscale material, just behind silver is TiO2 with more than 100 publications per year since 2011 [46].

3.1 Characterization of functional textiles with silver nanowires (AgNWs)

Application of silver nanowires AgNWs for textile functionalization allows for obtaining bifunctional textiles with bioacive and conductive properties [4, 5]. AgNWs colloid of 0,5% concentration was synthetized [4, 44, 46, 47] and nanowires were applied to the surface of the fabrics by dipping and drying method [4, 5].

Raman rectangle map of functionalized cotton is presented on Figure 9. Characterization of cotton modified by AgNWs was described in publications [4, 12]. Raman technique thanks to Raman mapping enables the characterization of the selected surface area on a micro scale. The analyzed area is visualized in terms of the intensity of the band characteristic for a given material or modifier. Two or even three dimensional maps (2D and 3D maps) show the distribution of the modifier on the analyzed area. Band characteristic for AgNWs is in the region 240–250 cm⁻¹ and it is the result of Ag-O coordination band that is the effect of interactions between silver and oxygen adsorbed on the surface [4, 22, 48]. In the case of modified cotton AgNWs, no cotton bands are visible on the surface. All analyzed surface is covered with a metallic AgNWs coating. The map was made according to the characteristic band of Ag-O coordination at 238 cm⁻¹.

Figure 9.

Raman map of cotton fabric functionalized by AgNWs.

Characterization of functionalized aramid fibers is presented on Figures 10 and 11. For the functionalized mAr, the most intense band of mAr is the ring breathing band at 1003 cm⁻¹. Raman maps were performed according to the 1003 cm⁻¹ band and according to AgNWs band which is represented by Ag-O coordination band at 238 cm⁻¹ (Figure 10). Both maps are also presented in 3D form.

Figure 10.

Raman map of mAr modified by AgNWs.

Figure 11.

Raman map of pAr modified by AgNWs.

Whereas for the functionalized pAr, the characteristic band of mAr was the NH bending and CN stretching band at 1279 cm⁻¹, characteristic band of AgNWs was Ag-O coordination band (Figure 11). In both figures (Figures 10 and 11), the blue color shows the area covered with nanowires, and the red color indicates that aramid predominates on the surface in the studied area.

3.2 Characterization functional textiles with TiO₂ on the surface

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) applied to the modification of textile materials can give them such properties as i.e. photocatalytic, self-cleaning, bioactive, UV protective etc. [2, 9, 49, 50, 51, 52]. Raman map of TiO₂ modified PP is presented on Figure 12.

Figure 12.

Raman map of PP fiber modified by TiO₂.

Polypropylene as a one of the most used component of floorcoverings was also modified by TiO₂. Titanium dioxide was applied to limit the environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) sorption by the photocatalytic decomposition of ETS-derived nicotine (basic marker of tobacco smoke exposure) [50, 51, 52]. Thanks to Raman Surface mapping the TiO₂ distribution on the PP fiber can be evaluated. The analyzed area is visualized in terms of the intensity of the 142 cm⁻¹ band that is characteristic for TiO₂ in anatase form [52]. The characteristics of functional fiber can be enriched by the cross-section map as it is shown on the Figure 13. The cross-section map illustrates the place of modification revealing whether the modification takes place on the surface, or in the volume of the fiber.

Figure 13.

Cross-sections of PP fibers modified with TiO₂.

4. SERS effect on textile fibers surface

The functionalization of textile with silver nanoparticles causes formation of metallic layer on their surfaces and in consequence possibility of Raman signal enhancement [4, 21, 22, 23]. The research on the functionalization of fibers has shown that a textile material can be a good carrier for the SERS effect [22]. SERS effect on cotton brought not only designed functionalization effects. This method turned out to be the useful tool in the identification of the reactive dyes for cotton dyed with low color intensity. In the Figure 14 there is presented the Raman map on cotton fabric. Spectra presented below map are the reference spectra of cotton and reactive red dye. Red line is the spectrum detected on functionalized cotton surface. In addition to the band characteristic for AgNWs, the signal enhancement and in consequence increase in the intensity of the bands in the region of 1100–1600 cm is visible. This enhancement concerns main band of cotton at 1099 cm⁻¹ and the bands of reactive dye. When compare this spectrum with the spectrum of cotton modified by AgNWs shown in Figure 9, it can be noticed that the cotton and dye bands became visible thanks to this signal enhancement. SERS effect on the cotton surface was accessible only when the thin layer of AgNWs was applied [22].

Figure 14.

Raman map of functionalized cotton fabric. Red line is the measured spectrum, blue line is the reference spectrum of cotton, green line is the reference spectrum of reactive red dye.

The SERS effect was also recorded on the wool fibers. The Raman maps of the AgNWs modified wool surface are shown in Figures 15 and 16. These maps were done according to a band characteristic of Ag-O coordination and confirm the presence of the AgNWs on the wool. Figure 16 shows a map of dyed wool and the reference spectra of wool and dye used (reactive red dye) are also presented. Raman maps collected on the wool surface, spectra made point by point, show in some places the enhancement of recorded bands.

Figure 15.

Raman 3D map of functionalized wool.

Figure 16.

Raman map of functionalized dyed wool made. Red line is the measured spectrum, blue line is the reference spectrum of cotton, green line is the reference spectrum of reactive red dye.

In the Figure 17 there is presented one of such enhanced Raman spectrum. Stars on the Figure 17 show strengthens bands. As the map is made on the surface of dyed wool, reinforcement of both the wool and the dye strands is observed. However, not all bands are strengthened equally, as at the same time additional SERS bands appear. Additional SERS bands that might be the effect of chemical enhancement of ring vibrations [21, 53]. The SERs effect accompanies the functionalization of fibers with a rough surface and should be studied more deeply as it can be useful in the analysis of textile materials i.e. in the identification of the other elements on the surface.

Figure 17.

Raman map with visible SERS effect of functionalized wool. Red line is the measured spectrum, blue line is the reference spectrum of wool, green line is the reference spectrum of reactive red dye.

SERS effect was also identified on aramid fibers, as it is shown in the Figure 18.

Figure 18.

Raman maps with visible SERS effect on aramid fibers: a) mAr; b) pAr.

5. Conclusion

Raman spectroscopy is a valuable method in the analysis of textile materials enabling fiber identification and characterization of modification effects. Identification can be carried out for natural and synthetic fiber, both by analyzing their surface and inside the structure. This technique makes also possible to distinguish between the fibers, where IR spectroscopy does not give a definite answer (wool and silk or PA 6 and PA 6.6). Raman spectrum can be also useful in assessment of the textile polymer crystallinity. The Raman spectroscopy special application has found in the study of textile materials functionalized with nanoparticles. They can be analyzed on the surface and inside the fiber. New possibilities are opened by the use of the Raman mapping system which allows the characterization of textile materials with nanoparticles, including SERS analysis. A functionalized textile structure with a noble metal on the surface can be flexible substrates for the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) analysis.

Acknowledgments

All presented results were carried out on Raman Renishaw InVia Spectrometer purchased the in POIG.01.03.01-00-004/08 Functional nano- and micro textile materials—NANOMITEX project, co-financed by the European Union with the financial resources of the European Regional Development Fund and the National Centre for Research and Development.

The authors would like to thank Ms. Alicja Nejman, Dr. Hubert Schmidt for functionalized fibers used in the research and Ms. Irena Kamińska for the SEM images of fibers.