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.
Today wearable electronics are playing a vital role in many applications such as military, medical application, telecommunications, and health care garments. Conductive textiles are also providing wide range of applications in areas of civilian and military purposes. In this research work, an attempt has been made to design and develop core—sheath conductive yarns with copper filament as core and cotton as sheath using Dref-3 friction spinning system. The special guide mechanism has been designed and used to produce uniform structure of core—sheath conductive yarns. Three different core—sheath ratios such as 67/33, 80/20, and 90/10 respectively, were produced by varying the draft in the second drafting unit, which fed the cotton carded slivers to cover the core component. Copper filament of 38 SWG British Standard Gauge has been used as core component. The nominal yarn linear density of core conductive yarn (CCY) produced in this research was 328 tex and core component kept as constant 261 tex for all the yarn samples. The copper CCY were used to develop the conductive fabrics. These fabrics have very good scope for many applications for development of electromagnetic shielding wearable textiles, mobile phone charging, and body temperature sensing garments. The electro-mechanical characteristics of the copper CCY and fabrics have been studied.
The relationship between fabric properties and thermal conductivity of various jute/cotton blended knitted fabrics has been studied. The experimental result shows that lower thermal conductivity noticed at higher jute blend proportions. The thermal conductivity reduces with increasing fabric thickness. It also reveals that fabric air permeability and tightness factor values influences the thermal conductivity of jute/cotton blended knitted fabrics. The thermal insulation values are noticed higher with higher fabric tightness factor and lower air permeability. Regression correlation coefficients between various fabric properties and thermal conductivity have been discussed.
Health and hygiene are the primary requirements for human beings to live comfortably and work with maximum efficiency. The present study focuses on the development of herbal chitosan nanocomposite finishes for protective clothing. The medicinal plant (Azadirachta indica) was selected, and bioactive compounds were extracted. The neem chitosan nanocomposites were prepared using multiple emulsion/ solvent evaporation method. The neem chitosan nanocomposites were finished on to 100% cotton fabrics using pad dry cure method. The antibacterial activity of the fabrics were assessed using standard AATCC 100 and 147 test methods. The neem chitosan nanocomposites treated fabrics showed an increased antimicrobial activity than the other fabric treatments (neem chitosan composite, neem, and chitosan). The scanning electron microscopic results showed that the nanocomposites were essentially spherical in the size range of 50-100nm.
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