Textile Functionalisation by Printing Fragrant, Antimicrobial and Flame- Retardant Microcapsules

Abstract

The procedure of applying microcapsules to a cotton fabric using screen printing was investigated. The aim was to explore whether the printing of microcapsules might be a universal approach to functionalise textiles. Fragrant (lavender, rosemary and sage essential oil core), antimicrobial (triclosan core) and flame-retardant (triphenyl phosphate core) microcapsules with a melamine-formaldehyde wall were used. The optimal concentration of microcapsules in the printing paste to achieve the desired effect was investigated. The mechanical properties of the treated fabrics were analysed before and after the washing. The results showed that different functionalities of fabrics can be achieved using this printing technique. The optimal concentration of microcapsules to produce the desired fragrant or antibacterial textile product was 100 g of suspension (32 g of microcapsules) per kg of fabric. The optimal concentration of microcapsules to produce the desired fire-retardant material was very high and could not be achieved using the pigment system.