Influence of nano titanium dioxide finish, prepared by sol-gel technique, on the ultraviolet protection, antimicrobial, and self-cleaning characteristics of cotton fabrics

Abstract

The performance of ultraviolet (UV) protection, antimicrobial activity, and self-cleaning characteristics of nano titanium dioxide (TiO2) with acrylic binder were assessed on the cotton fabric using pad-dry-cure method. Titanium iso-propoxide was used as precursor with two different mediums of water and ethanol to synthesize nano-sol by sol-gel technique. The synthesized nano-sol-gel was then characterized by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, particle size analyzer (PSA), X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nano TiO2 finished cotton fabrics were tested for ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), antimicrobial activity, self-cleaning action, and physical properties. The wash fastness of TiO2 nano finished cotton fabrics for 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th washes was assessed and also their ultra protection factor values and the percentage reduction in bacteria in each stage were reported. The self-cleaning activity was assessed for 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours duration by exposing coffee stain on the specimen fabrics to sunlight. The TiO2 nanoparticles had 12 nm when ethanol medium was used and 7 nm for water. The smaller nanoparticles had showed better results regards antimicrobial activity and self-cleaning. In case of UV-protection function it was found that the fabrics treated with 12 nm nanoparticles exhibit higher UPF values than the fabric treated with 7 nm nanoparticles. The durability of the imparted function was in the range of 32–36 washes for antimicrobial activity and UV-protection property.

ANTIBACTERIAL EFFICIENCY OF MODAL FABRIC TREATED WITH OXIDES OF Ti/Si/Zn NANOCOMPOSITES

“…This confirms the formation of the TiO2 mode in the modal fabric. 9 A broad absorption peak at around 3332 cm -1 and 1643 cm -1 of molecular water was observed in the TiO2 treated modal fabric. 8 The peaks around 1100 cm -1 and 800 cm -1 correspond to symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations of Si-O-Si bonds respectively in Fig.-2(c).…”

“…8 In the antimicrobial treatment of cotton fabrics by TiO2 nanoparticles; smaller nanoparticles have shown better results. 9 Nano SiO2 treated textiles have provided better microbiological controls in hospital interiors. 10 A significant result was observed in the zinc oxide nanoparticle treated cotton fabrics against S.Aureus.…”

Skin Cancer and UV Protection

“…Textile finishing agents for UV protection can be incorporated into the fiber matrix, or it can be applied to the surface of the fabric [28][29][30][31]. The presence of inorganic pigments in the fibers also allows better scattering of light from the substrate, thus providing better protection.…”

“…Good skin protection thereby can be achieved by the textile itself, if the fabric is sufficiently dense. Introducing the nanoparticles in textile finishing, led to UV protection by coating the surface of textiles and clothing with nanoparticles of TiO 2 titanium, and zinc oxide [28][29][30], and nowadays, of natural zeolite clinoptilolite [22,32,33].…”

A comparison between acrilic resin and butanetetracarboxylic acid used to bind TiO2 nanoparticles to cotton fabrics

“…Recently, the use of nano titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) to improve the absorption of ultra-violet irradiation on fabrics´ surface has been studied in many works (mainly Chen et al 2010;Montazer and Seifollahzadeh 2011;Yang and Zhu 2004;Ibrahim et al 2010;Nazari et al 2009;Sunderesan et al 2011), due to its good photocatalytic properties, low cost, high stability and efficiency (Kuo et al 2011). UV protection is a natural attribute of TiO 2 , which can be explained by the band theory of solids.…”