Surface active softener containing metal nanoparticles for functional textiles

Abstract

ABSTRACT Textile industry is one of the major industries in Egypt that has great impact on Egypt’s revenue. A wide variety of functional properties have been imparted recently to textile fabrics by means of chemical finishing to develop multifunctional textiles. The main aim of this thesis was to develop novel approaches for textile multi-functionalization in single step process to impart multifunctional properties to cotton fabric in addition to enhanced physical properties particularly softness properties keeping in our mind saving both water and energy. We prepared highly stable silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in-situ silicon microemulsion matrix and then applied it on cotton fabric. The treated fabrics showed enhanced antibacterial and softness effects with minimal loss in fabric strength properties. Furthermore, we use electrospinning technique to convert the former formula into electrospun with the aid of poly vinyl alcohol polymer. The formed nanofiber mat showed improved antibacterial properties against gram positive and negative bacteria suggesting its promising role to be used as wound healing dressing in the medical field. We also implemented environmentally safe approach to prepare ZnO nanoparticles with the use of Jojoba oil nanoemulsion that was prepared through ultrasound assisted emulsification. Additionally, we applied this novel formula (ZnO-Jojoba nanoemulsion) in the presence and absence of different types of softeners (cationic- silicon) to cotton based fabrics through the use of ultrasonic spray coating technique. Finally, we developed a new finishing formulation using titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2) homogenously suspended in mixture of cationic softener and herbal oil. Application of this mixture on cotton fabric exhibited great stability, UV-protection, self-cleaning, antibacterial effect and softness properties without affecting fabric physical properties.