Wool protection against moths is an important concept
in wool finishing that can obtained through application of various
chemicals with different mechanisms of actions. In this paper, a novel
mothproofing method is introduced through treatment of wool fabric
with nano titanium dioxide (NTO) and citric acid (CA). Citric acid
(CA) helps to enhance the washing durability, antifelting, and antibacterial
properties of the NTO treated wool. Mothproofing was assessed through
the study of damages on the wool surface by the larvae of the carpet
beetle, Anthrenus verbasci, feeding on protein fibers.
The damage intensity of wool fabric and TiO2 nanoparticles
on the fabric surface were confirmed with scanning electron microscopy
images and energy-dispersive spectrometry. X-ray diffraction (XRD)
of NTO treated fabrics indicated the crystal structure of NTO on the
wool surface. Overall, the wool fabrics treated with CA and NTO indicated
the highest protection against moths compared with raw and bleached
wool fabrics.
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