This study examined an innovative approach to functional finishes of linen-containing fabrics. Modification of surface properties along with creation on new interactive site onto the fabrics surfaces, i.e., —COOH or —NH2 groups, using oxygen-or nitrogen plasma followed by subsequent treatments with selected ionic dyes, certain metal salts, nano-scale metal or metal oxides, quaternary ammonium salt or nominated antibiotics were carried out to obtain linen-based textiles with upgrade UV-protection and/or antibacterial functions. The results detailed in this paper demonstrate that: (i) post-basic dyeing of oxygen plasma-treated substrates with C.I. Basic Red 24 brings about a significant improvement in the UV-protection and antibacterial activity against the G +ve (Staphylococcus aureus) and G —ve (Escherichia coli) bacteria, (ii) post-reactive dyeing of nitrogen plasma-treated substrates with C.I. Reactive violet 5, results in a remarkable improvement in both UV-blocking and antibacterial properties. (iii) the extent of improvement in the above-mentioned properties of the obtained dyeings is determined by the type of substrate, kind and concentration of the ionic dye, (iv) loading of the metal ions onto the preactivated fabric surfaces upgraded their UV-protection valued as well as their antibacterial efficiency, and the extent of enhancement is governed by the kind and concentration of metal salt as well as type of bacteria, (v) loading of nano-scale Ag, TiO2, or ZrO onto the plasma-treated substrates brings about a remarkable improvement in their functional properties, (vi) loading of the used antibiotics or choline chloride onto the plasma-treated substrates gives rise to better antibacterial ability, (vii) both the UV-protection ability and the antibacterial activity of selected samples were retained even after 10 laundering cycles, and (viii) the options described here for attaining linen-containing fabrics with high functional properties are effective, simple and applicable.

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This study demonstrated that the changes in functional and comfort properties of knitted cotton fabrics were determined by the knitted structure as well as type and concentration of finishing agent. To improve the comfort properties, one should ensure the smoothness of fabric surface, air permeability, heat transmittance as well as hydrophilicity of the knitted fabrics, by selecting the proper knit structure and/or by applying the proper finish such as bio-finish. Soft-finished fabric samples had lower tendency to shrinkage and lower stiffness unless compared with other finished fabrics. The functional properties of the finished cotton knits, i.e., antibacterial and water repellent, depend to a great extent on the type of finish.

ABSTRACT:A new approach was used to search for the optimal conditions for enzymatic scouring with an alkaline pectinase and to investigate the feasibility of performed combined bioscouring and H 2 O 2 bleaching and combined bioscouring and reactive dyeing of unscoured cotton fabrics. The possibility of conducting enzymatic desizing, bioscouring, and H 2 O 2 bleaching of starch-sized cotton fabrics in a single bath was also examined. The results indicated that changes in the parameters of the bioscouring process, the types and concentrations of the treating bath components, and the sequence of the treatment and addition had pronounced effects on certain properties of the treated cotton substrates (e.g., the residual size, weight loss, wettability, yellowness and whiteness, and dyeability with reactive dyes). The optimal conditions for efficient bioscouring alone and in combination with H 2 O 2 bleaching, reactive dyeing, and enzymatic desizing and H 2 O 2 bleaching were determined.

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