Developing UV-protective cotton fabric based on SiO<Subscript>x</Subscript> nanoparticles

Nano-SiO_x suspension was prepared for its unique optical performance to improve the anti-ultraviolet property of cotton fabric in this paper. The experimental results showed that UV-resistance property of thus treated fabrics had been enhanced significantly. The spectrum of absorption, reflection, and transmittance of the treated fabric was analyzed during the optimized processing. The mechanical property of the treated fabric displayed a little increase compared with the original untreated fabric. The morphology of the treated fabric was studied by SEM. The UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) of the fabric treated with nano-SiO_x suspension reached 62, much higher than that of the original untreated fabric. Moreover, after 50 home launderings, the UV-blocking property of treated fabric changed little due to the strong affinity between the nano-SiO_x particles and cotton fiber.     

Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles by PNP and its application on the functional finishing of cotton fabrics

This paper presents a facile and novel approach for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles in aqueous solution based on a one-step reaction between a modified hyperbranched polymer (PNP) and zinc nitrate. The prepared ZnO nanoparticles polymeric hybrid was characterized and its antibacterial activity was investigated. The results indicated that the ZnO nanoparticles have an average size about 6 nm and well dispersed in aqueous medium. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of them was 20 ppm and 60 ppm against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. For the functional finishing of cotton fabrics by these ZnO nanoparticles, a microwave assisted in situ fabrication method was employed. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements confirmed that the ZnO nanoparticles in situ generated in cotton fabrics successfully. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic investigation demonstrated that the ZnO nanoparticles were fixed on the cotton fibers by PNP. The treated cotton fabrics exhibited excellent UV protective properties and antibacterial activities. When ZnO content of cotton fabric was 1.49 %, the UPF value of treated cotton fabric exceeded 125 and the bacterial reduction rate against S. aureus and E. coli reached 99.97 % and 98.40 %, respectively.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Waterborne Polyurethane Modified by Acrylate/nano-ZnO for Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics

Waterborne polyurethane modified by acrylate/nano-ZnO (PUA/ZnO) was synthesized and used to improve the wet rubbing fastness of reactive dyed cotton fabric. The reaction conditions were optimized and the products were characterized by FT-IR, TG, DSC, SEM, and particle size distribution. The dyed cotton fabrics were finished with PUA/ZnO emulsion and the rubbing fastness, ultraviolet resistant property, and wearability of treated fabrics were measured. The wet rubbing fastness of treated fabrics was increased by about 0.5–1 rate to achieve 3–4 rate, and the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) achieved 50+ level. The whiteness, air permeability, and elongation at break of treated fabric were not decreased significantly. SEM showed that the smooth and reticular coating on the surface of treated fabric reduced the mechanical friction force between dyed fabric and rubbing cloth, and thus improved the rubbing fastness. The decomposition temperature of finished fabric was increased by 50–80 °C.     

Synthesis of cationic core-shell fluorine-containing polyacrylate soap-free latex and its application on cotton substrate

Fluorinated polyacrylate latexes are preferably potential materials for use in the textile finishing due to their special surface property and especially economical, low-toxic characteristics compared to fluorinated polyacrylate solutions. A novel cationic fluorine-containing polyacrylate soap-free latex (CFMBD) with core-shell structure was accordingly developed by co-polymerizing dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DM) using a cationic reactive emulsifier, maleic acid double ester-octadecyl poly(ethyleneoxy)₂₀ ether-ethylene trimethyl ammonium chloride (R303). Then CFMBD was utilized to treat the cotton fabric. Results showed that the as-prepared latex had due structure and its particles had uniform spherical core-shell structure with an average diameter of 125 nm. The core-shell CFMBD latex film thus had two T _g and its thermal property was improved due to the introduction of DFMA. CFMBD could form a smooth resin film on the treated fabric/fiber surface under FESEM observation. XPS analysis indicated the fluoroalkyl groups had the tendency to enrich at the film-air interface. Hydrophobicity of the CFMBD treated fabric was slightly superior to that of the fabric treated by general emulsion but their oleophobicity was identical. Contact angles of water and diiodomethane on the CFMBD treated fabric surface could attain 133.5 ° and 105.5 °, respectively. However, washing durability of the treated fabric by CFMBD showed improvement compared to the general emulsion. In addition, CFMBD didn’t influence whiteness of the treated fabric but would make it slightly stiff at high doses.     

Performance of cotton fabric treated with an amino-terminated hyperbranched polymer

An amino-terminated hyperbranched polymer (HBP-NH₂), synthesized from methyl acrylate and diethylene tri-amine by polycondensation, was applied to treat cotton samples by a pad-dry-cure method. Physical properties, salt-free dye-ability, antimicrobial activity, and antiultraviolet property of the treated cotton samples were tested. The crystallinity and mechanical properties, including breaking strength, breaking elongation, and Young’s modulus of the treated cotton fibers, increased slightly in comparison with those of the untreated cotton fibers. The thermal stability and the moisture regain were also improved slightly. Dyed with direct dyes and reactive dyes in the absence of the electrolytes, the treated cotton fabric showed similar or higher color strength compared with the untreated cotton fabric in conventional dyeing. The treated cotton fabric can also be dyed with acid dyes effectively. In addition, the treated cotton fabric showed good antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The study of the antiultraviolet properties of the treated cotton fabric indicated that the HBP-NH₂ contributed to the reduction of UV transmission and the increase of UPF.     

Preparation of the silk fabric with ultraviolet protection and yellowing resistance using TiO2/La(III) composite nanoparticles

In order to develop ultraviolet protection and yellowing resistance silk fabric, the silk fabric was treated with dispersive TiO₂/La(III) composite solution. The morphology, microstructure, ultraviolet protection and whiteness of the treated silk fabric were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction and ultraviolet transmittance. Furthermore, the mechanism of the ultraviolet protection was investigated. The results show that the TiO₂/La(III) composite particles disperse uniformly. The TiO₂/La(III) particles can not only be treated onto the surface of the silk fabric but also can be treated into the interior of the silk fabric successfully. The result of Fourier transform infrared spectra and X-ray diffraction demonstrates that there are hydrogen bonds between the silk fabric and composite particles, and crystallinity of the treated silk fabric decrease when compares to the untreated silk fabric. The ultraviolet protection factor of the TiO₂/La (III) treated silk fabric is significantly higher than that of the untreated silk fabric. The main ultraviolet shielding effect of TiO₂ treated silk fabric is absorption. The La(III) treated SF has a bad ultraviolet shielding effect, but it has a certain reflection and absorption.     

Preparation process and antimicrobial properties of cross-linking chitosan onto periodate-oxidized bamboo pulp fabric

Chitosan cross-linked bamboo pulp fabric (CCBPF) was prepared by treating the oxidized bamboo pulp fabric with the chitosan aqueous acetic acid solution. FTIR spectroscopy was used to examine the chemical bonding between chitosan and oxidized bamboo pulp fabrics, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry were used to detect the cellulose structure. The impact of the periodate oxidation and chitosan treatment on the physical properties of bamboo pulp fabrics was evaluated by determining the aldehyde content, weight loss, mechanical strength, wrinkle recovery angle, and moisture regain of fabrics as well as chitosan content in the composite chitosan-bamboo pulp fabrics. Antibacterial activity of the CCBPF against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was investigated in vitro experiments. The results indicated that the aldehyde groups in the periodate oxidized bamboo pulp cellulose were reacted with the amino groups of chitosan to form Schiff base, and the resultant CCBPF displayed good wrinkle recovery angle and moisture regain. In comparison with those of the oxidized bamboo pulp fabric, the CCBPF exhibited a lower thermal stability, the crystallinity decreased from 42.73 % to 39.15 %, the mechanical strength of CCBPF had no significant change, and the CCBPF showed excellent antibacterial activity against both types of bacteria which was durable till 50 washes.     

Preparation and property of TiO2/SiO2 multilayer film on the fabric by sol-gel process

The high light reflection of multilayer TiO₂/SiO₂ film was prepared on the fabric by the sol-gel process. The size of titania and silica particles in hydrosol was analyzed by Nanosizer, and the morphology of TiO₂/SiO₂ multilayer film on the fabric was characterized by SEM. The reflection spectra of the samples were tested accordingly, and it showed that the reflection of the fabric coated by multilayer film was higher than that of the monolayer film. Moreover, the reflection increased with the increase of layer number. For sunlight fastness testing, the fabric color changed less with the increase of layer number, which showed the multilayer film on the fabric can improve the light resistance of the fabric. The mechanical property, the bending property and air permeability testing results showed that there was little change for the coated fabric compared with the original fabric.     

Preparation of the cotton fabric with ultraviolet resistance and antibacterial activity using nano attapulgite colloidal particles

A carefully designed surface modification technique for the preparation of multifunctional cotton fabric was successfully developed by the functionalization of cotton fabric with nano attapulgite (ATP) colloidal particles. The dispersion of the nano ATP colloidal particles, the morphology, microstructure, thermal stability, ultraviolet resistance, antibacterial activity and air permeability of the treated cotton fabric were characterized. The results showed that the particle size of the ATP particle distributed between 100 nm to 150 nm after dispersion. The SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectra) analysis demonstrated that the ATP particles were successfully introduced to surface of the cotton fabric. The structural and thermal stability of the treated fabric were higher than those of the untreated fabric. The ATP treated cotton fabric possessed excellent ultraviolet resistance and antibacterial activity. Furthermore, the treatment did not affect the wear ability of the cotton fabric. The multifunctional cotton fabric meets the market demand for natural products.     

Development of UV Protective,Superhydrophobic and Antibacterial Textiles Using ZnO and TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Nanoparticles

In this research work, multifunctional cotton fabric comprising of UV protection, superhydrophobicity and antibacterial activity has been developed using facile pad-dry-cure method. In the first step, the concentration of repellent chemical has been optimized. Then, formulations containing nanoparticles of ZnO or TiO₂ along with optimized concentration of repellent chemical and organic-inorganic binder have been applied to cotton fabric followed by the evaluation of functional properties. The surface morphology and elemental composition of treated fabric has been characterized through SEM and EDX, respectively. The treated samples have shown promising UV protection, superhydrophobicity and antibacterial properties durable upto 20 washing cycles.     

Adhesion and durability of Cu film on polyester fabric prepared by finishing treatment with polyester-polyurethane and aqueous acrylate

To improve adhesion and wear durability at the interface between copper (Cu) film and polyester fabric, the Cu-coated polyester fabric was treated by two commercial solutions of polyester-polyurethane (PP) and aqueous acrylate (AC) as finishing process respectively. Both finishing agents with 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, 25 %, 30 %, 35 % and 40 % concentrations were coated on the Cu-coated fabrics by a padding method in this study. The surface morphologies of the coated polyester fabric before and after finishing were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The adhesion of Cu-coated film before and after the finishing treatments was measured with scotch tape method; the durability was evaluated by colorfastness to washing, crocking and perspiration. Additionally, Ultraviolet (UV) shielding, water repellency and CIE L*a*b of the Cu-coated polyester fabric before and after the finishing treatments were determined. The Cu-coated polyester fabric has a high adhesion property of the 5 level, colorfastness to washing, wet crocking and perspiration of the Cu-coated fabric were obviously enhanced to level 5, level 4-5 and level 3-4. Meanwhile, The Cu-coated polyester fabric kept an excellent UV protection with UPF value over 68 after finishing treatment with PP and AC. The results demonstrate the finishing treatment with the PP presented effectively in durability performance than the AC for the Cu-coated polyester fabric.     

Simultaneous synthesis of nano ZnO and surface modification of polyester fabric

In this study, synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles was carried out along with the hydrolysis of polyester fabric using sodium hydroxide to increase the surface activity and enhance the nanoparticles adsorption. The polyester fabrics were treated with zinc acetate and sodium hydroxide at different bath conditions, ultrasound and stirrer, resulting in formation of ZnO nanospheres and ZnO nanorods. The presence of zinc oxide with different shapes on the surface of the polyester fabrics was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Also, the X-ray diffraction patterns established the composition of wurtzite structure of zinc oxide. The self-cleaning property of treated polyester fabrics was evaluated through discoloring dye stain under sunlight irradiation. The antibacterial activities of the samples against two common pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were also assessed. The results indicated that the photocatalytic and antibacterial activities of the ultrasound treated polyester fabrics were superior compared to the stirrer treated samples.     

In situ loading TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and its photocatalysis and UV resistance on cotton fabric

Anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles was in-situ formed on the cotton fabric by using tetrabutyl titanate (TBT) as a precursor through the normal pressure hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV visible spectra (UV-VIS), ATR-IR were used as the characterization techniques. Photocatalytic performance of TiO₂ on the fabric surface was evaluated by methylene blue (MB), 4 kinds of the common living stains and three dyes under ultraviolet and visible light radiation. XRD analysis found that the TiO₂ loaded on the fabric was mainly anatase crystalline phase with particle size of 6.4 nm. SEM observed that a large number of nano TiO₂ particles are distributed on the fabric surface. UV-VIS test indicated that theTiO₂-coated fabric possessed an obvious absorption for ultraviolet. ATR-IR analysis indicated that the nano-TiO₂ possesses a strong affinity with the hydroxyl group of the cotton fabric, and the soaping tests showed that the TiO₂ was firmly bonded with the fabrics. The treated fabrics have good degradation ability for MB aqueous solution, and could degrade azo, anthraquinone and phthalocyanine dyes. The order of degradation of the common life stains was: pepper oil> tea > coffee > soy sauce.     

Properties of basic dyes on polyacrylonitrile treated m-aramid fabrics

Treatment of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) onto m-aramid fabric was carried out by pad-dry-cure method using dimethylformamide (DMF) dissolved acrylic fiber solution. The obtained PAN treated m-aramid fabric was dyed using exhaustion method with basic dyes. The effect of PAN treatment on fabric stiffness property was acceptable with acrylic fiber solutions ranging from 1 wt% to 4 wt%. Whilst, more than 4 wt% PAN treated fabrics exhibited undesirable stiffness. The dyeing results showed that PAN treated m-aramid fabrics exhibited a significant increase in color strength when compared to untreated fabric, arising from an increase in anionic dye sites (styrene SO₃ ^? group). Wash fastness was comparable to that of untreated fabric, indicating the strong interaction between dye molecules and the PAN. Rubbing fastness of treated fabrics was not affected by treatments with PAN concentrations lower than 4 wt%. Further increase in PAN concentration led to poorer rubbing fastness property due to the problem of surface dyeing. For light fastness, the PAN treatment failed to improve the light fastness property which is the main disadvantage of basic dyeing of aramid fabric. Finally, in case of PAN treatments with the range of 1 wt% to 4 wt%, the flame retardancy property of PAN treated m-aramid fabrics was found not affected by the percent add-on. However, above 4 wt% PAN treatment, the flame retardancy performance became deteriorated.     

Synthesis,film morphology and performance of novel crosslinked polysiloxane with end-capped epoxy groups on cotton substrates

An epoxy group-terminated polyvinylmethylsiloxane (EPVMS) was firstly prepared via the cohydrolysis/condensation reaction of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D₄), 2,4,6,8-Tetramethyl-2,4,6,8-tetravinylcyclotetrasiloxane (D₄V), and epoxy group-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (ETP) under a base catalyst. Then, the EPVMS was reacted with polymethylhydrosiloxane oligomer (PHMS) by hydrosilylation to develop novel crosslinked polysiloxane with end-capped epoxy groups (CLPS). The chemical structure and the thermal property of the as-prepared products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (¹H/¹³C NMR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Finally, the CLPS was applied as the finishing agent to treat the cotton fabrics. The film morphology and the surface properties were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle measurements, and other instruments. FT-IR and NMR results confirmed the structure of the resultants. The crosslinked polysiloxane CLPS showed better thermal stability than the uncrosslinked polysiloxane EPVMS. The CLPS film on cotton fabric surface seemed to be smooth compared to the control by SEM. However, owing to the crosslinked structure, the CLPS film on silicon-wafer was inhomogeneous and had a few weak or strong peaks. At 5 nm data scale and in 2×2 μm² scanning field, the root mean square roughness of CLPS film reached to 0.414 nm. XPS analysis further demonstrates that there was a CLPS film covered on the cotton surface. Hydrophobicity of the CLPS treated fabric was superior to that of the EPVMS treated one. Whiteness of the treated fabrics by CLPS and EPVMS did not change at all compared to the control. The softness of the two treated fabrics was both better than that of control and particularly the softness of the EPVMS treated fabrics was preferable. The CLPS treated fabric possessed good washing durability.     

Formability analysis of worsted woven fabrics considering fabric direction

Over years predicting fabric behaviour during garment manufacturing process was considered by researchers in order to reduce manufacturing problems and achieve high quality products. Fabric formability which is affected by bending and tensile behaviour through the application of small loads is a property which can predict fabric performance precisely. However, this property changes regarding fabric direction and is not constant. In this study, fabric formability is examined for worsted woven fabrics in a more detailed way by evaluating this property in various fabric directions. It was concluded that fabric formability could be expressed as a sinusoidal function of sample orientation towards warp direction. Moreover, studying several weave structures with different weft densities reveals that the less the firmness of fabric construction the more the value of fabric formability which indicates the better adaption of fabric to the exerted deformation.     

Effect of various shapes of zinc oxide nanoparticles on cotton fabric for UV-blocking and anti-bacterial properties

Various shapes of ZnO — multi-petals, rod and spherical — were prepared and then applied on cotton fabric for UV-blocking and anti-bacterial properties. The ZnO particles were investigated by XRD and SEM. The as-prepared suspension was applied onto cotton fabrics via the pad-dry-cure process at 150 °C. The characteristics of the fabric coating were investigated by SEM, XRD and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The UV-blocking effectiveness was measured with a UV-Vis spectrophotometer whilst the antibacterial activity was determined using the AATCC 147 method. The results of XRD and SEM on the ZnO powders show that we can produce various shapes of ZnO. The investigation by SEM and AAS clearly revealed that ZnO was effectively deposited on the cotton surface and that the adhesion was retained after washing ten cycles. The sphericals-shaped ZnO and multi-petals shaped ZnO coated fabrics show excellent UV-blocking properties. All treated samples showed good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus Aureus. The shape of ZnO shows no considerable effect on antibacterial properties.     

Self-cleaning Properties of Nylon 6 Fabrics Treated with Corona and TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Nanoparticles under Both Ultraviolet and Daylight Irradiations

Nylon 6 fabric with self-cleaning properties was prepared by corona discharge pre-treatment and coating with TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) using pad-dry-cure technique. The self-cleaning property was studied by discoloration of methylene blue (MB), ketchup, tea and coffee stains from the corona+TiO₂ treated nylon-6 fabric. Color difference (ΔΕ*), reflectance (R) and K/S of MB stain were investigated by diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry. The MB stain was almost completely removed from the corona+TiO₂ treated nylon surface after 24 h under UV light/daylight irradiation. Both of these phenomena (corona and TiO₂) led to an increase in the discoloration of stains under UV and daylight irradiations. The EDS analysis showed an increase in the concentration of deposited TiO₂ NPs coating after corona treatment. The FE-SEM images revealed that the surface of nylon 6 was coarser after the corona treatment. Also, the FE-SEM micrographs exhibited that a uniform layer of TiO₂ NPs was formed on the corona treated nylon fabric. The corona+TiO₂ treated nylon illustrated antibacterial activity against E. coli and B. subtillis microorganisms. The EDS and FE-SEM analysis confirmed that after 5 washing cycles, the amount of TiO₂ NPs was higher on the surface of corona+TiO₂ treated nylon than that of the fabric only treated with TiO₂ without corona pretreatment. This result justifies that the corona+TiO₂ treated nylon fabric with appropriate self-cleaning property can be applied cost-effectively in the textile industry.     

Properties of anti-UV-finished cotton fabrics cured by blue light irradiation

To decrease the pollution discharge and energy consumption resulting from textile finishing using the conventional pad-dry-cure process, a blue light-curable digital finishing for textile was innovatively proposed. Based on the mechanism of blue light curing technique, a combination of the blue light curing process and anti-UV finishing was established in this study. A blue light-curable anti-UV finishing solution containing oligomers, monomers, photoinitiators, and anti-UV agents was padded onto the surface of the cotton fabrics, and then cured to form a tough film under blue light irradiation. The ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) value of the finished cotton fabrics was 50, the top level of international standards, demonstrating excellent UV resistance. The finished cotton fabrics also showed good rubbing and washing durability, and acceptable handle. The integration of an anti-UV finishing with the blue light curing technique presents some unique advantages in terms of environmental protection and application potential.     

Preparation and photocatalytic activity of bismuth tungstate coated polyester fabric

Bi₂WO₆ particles were prepared and then coated on the polyester fabric. Surface morphology, crystal structure, and chemical structure of the Bi₂WO₆ particle coated polyester fabric were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet light irradiation. Influences of the different concentrations of Bi₂WO₆ on the deposit weight and the photocatalytic activity of the Bi₂WO₆ particle coated polyester fabric were investigated. In addition, UV protection of the Bi₂WO₆ particle coated polyester fabric was examined. The results show that Bi₂WO₆ particles are uniformly coated on the surface of the polyester fabric. The Bi₂WO₆ particles coated on the polyester fabric are irregular and are orthorhombic. In addition, the Bi₂WO₆ particle coated polyester fabric exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity and UV protection. The average degradation efficiency of MB in the presence of the Bi₂WO₆ particle on the polyester fabric coated with 10 g/l Bi₂WO₆ reaches 98.6 % after being illuminated for 7 h. Therefore, the Bi₂WO₆ particle coated polyester fabric shows excellent photocatalytic stability for dyes degradation.