Improvement of UV protection properties of the textile from natural fibres by the sol-gel method

Abstract

In this research pure cotton textile was successfully modified by zinc oxide nanosol prepared by the sol-gel method. The cotton fabric was dipped in the nanosol solution for 10 minutes, dried at 90 °C for 10 minutes with further thermal post-treatment at 120 °C, 140 °C or 160 °C for 2 minutes. Comparison of coating of samples prepared using different thermal post-treatments was made. Before and after laundering tests ultraviolet protective properties of the textile samples were determined according to the standards, results show that textiles after treatment with nanosol have excellent ultraviolet protection properties, as well treated samples after laundering tests (50 washing-drying cycles) still provide excellent ultraviolet protection. Analyses based on the scanning electron microscopy and spectrophotometer measurements show that obtained textile coatings are distributed evenly, not only on the surface of yarns but in the depth of textile material as well, and are resistant to exploitation process that indicates about very good adhesion between the coating and the fabric surface. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.