Composite material based on pullulan/silane/ZnO-NPs as pH, thermo-sensitive and antibacterial agent for cellulosic fabrics

Abstract

New polymeric system containing two of carbohydrate based polymers, namely, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and carboxymethyl pullulan (CMP) have been prepared via dispersion polymerization. Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) have been used in the polymerisation reaction as a temperature sensitive polymer and silane based crosslinker have been used for crosslinking reaction between the selected polymers. The prepared composite was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), swelling measurements and responsibility to both temperature and pH changes. Moreover, zinc oxide have been synthesised and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The as prepared nanoparticles have been added to the hydrogel network to increase the antibacterial activity of both synthesised gel and the treated fabrics. The prepared composite have been incorporated to cellulosic material using pad dry-cure technique using a cross-linking agent. Stimuli responsiveness properties of cellulosic materials have been confirmed by measuring the effect of pH and temperature on the water uptake.