Multi-functional cotton fabrics using nano-technology and environmentally friendly finishing agents

Abstract

Tio2 NANOPARTICLES were prepared using sol-gel technique. The prepared nanoparticles were analyzed using transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cotton fabrics were treated using prepared TiO2 nanoparticles in presence of citric acid and commercially flame retarding agent named Flovan CWF to produce cotton fabrics having multi-functional properties (anti-crease, self cleaning, and flame retardant) using pad-dry-cure- method. The treated fabrics examined by several testing and analysis methods such as crease recovery angle (CRA), tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (El), whiteness index (WI), self cleaning through K/S measurement and flame retarding properties through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Results obtained reveal that the optimum condition for the preparation of multi-functional cotton fabric is by using the following formulation (6 % citric acid, 3 % TiO2, 300g/l Flovan CWF) padded for pick-up 100%, dried at 100°C for 5min and cured at 160°C for 3 min. The presence of TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of the fabrics was proofed using EDX and the fabrics were examined also using scanning electron microscope.