Improving the functional properties of Egyptian cotton fabrics using TiO2 nanoparticles

Mohamed, Sahar Emam; Abdelrahim, Emam; Mahmoud, Azza Abdel Aziz; Ali, Mohamed A.

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2024.290333.9731

Improving the functional properties of Egyptian cotton fabrics using TiO2 nanoparticles

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Cotton Technology Research Division, Cotton Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

² Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

³ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/ejchem.2024.290333.9731

Abstract

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs), which are optically active metal nanoparticles that give cotton textiles excellent self-cleaning, UV blocking, and antibacterial performance, are prepared using the sol-gel method to investigate the novel qualities of cotton fabric. Using succinic acid 5 g/L/SHP as an across-linking agent, TiO2-NPs were prepared at two distinct concentrations (1% and 3% OWF) and applied to cotton fabrics (Giza 88 and Giza 94) to investigate the mechanical characteristics, UV-blocking abilities, microorganisms, and self-cleaning capabilities of textile. The characterization of TiO2-NPs was investigated using UV–VIS spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopic (TEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectra (EDX) and Zeta potential and particle size. The elemental analysis and surface morphology of treated cotton fabrics are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tensile strength and elongation of the treated fabrics are also evaluated. The results showed that the average size of TiO2 nanoparticles was 65.7 nm which has excellent UV protection value (UPF 50+), self-cleaning property, the inhibition zone increased at concentration of 3% for negative and positive bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus). The tensile strength decreased using 1% TiO2-NPs but with increasing the concentration to 3%, the mechanical properties were improved. The results of this investigation demonstrated that the cotton fabric treated with TiO2-NPs exhibited superior general characteristics when compared to the untreated samples. Giza88 was superior to Giza 94, due to the genetic characteristics of the variety.

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