Noureddine Abidi and Eric F. Hequet. Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute - Dept. Plant & Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Box 45019, Lubbock, TX 79409-5019
In this study, cotton fabric was successfully modified by the sol-gel process to impart antibacterial and anti-ultraviolet Radiation to the fabric surface. To impart antibacterial property, the cotton fabric was padded with dodecanethiol-capped silver nanoparticles-doped sol, dried at 60ºC, and cured at 150ºC. Scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of a uniform and continuous layer of doped sol on the fiber surface. The antibacterial effects of the treated cotton fabric against Escherichia Coli were examined and showed excellent antibacterial performances. To impart ultraviolet radiation protection, the cotton fabric was padded with titania nanosol solution, dried at 60oC, and cured at 150oC. Scanning Electron Microscopy showed continuous and uniform film on the fiber surface. Excellent UVR scattering was obtained with all treated fabrics. Increasing titanium content in the nanosol leads to increased UVR protection. This is attributed to the increase of the refractive index of the film formed on the fabric surface. Excellent durability of the treatment was obtained, which could be attributed to the establishment of covalent linkages between the –OH groups of the cellulose and –OH groups on the titanium network
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