TiO2/Cu composite NPs coated polyester fabric for the enhancement of antibacterial durability

Abstract

Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) were synthesized on a plasma treated polyester fabric having a coating of TiO2 NPs. The fabric was treated with cold O2 plasma first to enhance the surface affinity for TiO2 NPs, then coated with TiO2 NPs via a heat pressing, and finally synthesize Cu NPs on the complex surface using a dip-coating process. The resulting fabric shows an excellent antibacterial effect and outstanding laundering durability, as it has satisfactory bacterial reduction performance against S. aureus and E. coli higher than 98% and behaves stable even after 50 washing cycles. This methodology for preparing antibacterial polyester fabric maybe of high potential applications in cosmetic and medical textiles.