Soft, Ecofriendly Functional cotton fabric using herbal oil incorporated with TiO2nano particles

Abstract

textile surface in a process that depends mainly on ionic nature of textile surface hydrophilicity and also softener molecules. It is reported that small softener molecules has the ability to penetrate fiber materials resulting in internal plasticization for the fiber material through formation of polymer that reduces its glass transition temperature. The physical positioning of these softener molecules on textile surfaces is crucial. It is dependent s on the hydrophilic character of the surface and ionic nature of softener molecules. Cationic softeners, for instance, are arranged so that the positively charged groups are directed towards partially negatively charges of the fiber material. This orientation offers maximum softness and lubrication properties for the fabric materials [4,5]. Softeners have been reported to produce the C URRENT research was undertaken to develop a new finishing formulation using titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 ) homogenously suspended in mixture of cationic softener and herbal oil. Its utilization as multifunctional finishing formulation to cotton based fabrics was investigated. The properties of the treated fabrics were monitored and compared with the untreated one. These properties were include the effect of cationic softener concentration, form of TiO 2 nano particles (mixture of rutile and anatase), type of cotton fabrics (bleached or pre-carboxymethylated) and presence of herbal oil on the properties of the treated cotton fabrics were monitored. Moreover, stability of TiO 2 nanoparticles in such finishing formulation was also determined. The effect of using eco-friendly herbal oil within the same finishing formulation on the antibacterial activities of the treated fabric was also evaluated.The treated fabrics were monitored for UV-protection, self-cleaning and antibacterial properties. Morphology and structure of TiO 2 nanoparticles were characterized using XRD and TEM,. The antibacterial activities of the treated fabrics were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) strains and Escherichia coli (gram-negative), the results show significant antibacterial effect mainly against Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the treated fabrics showed enhanced UV protection and self-cleaning properties with improving softness properties.