Enhancing antimicrobial properties of dyed and finished cotton fabrics

The development of textile finishing with improved functional properties has been a growing interest among industry and scientists worldwide. The recent global pandemic also enhanced the awareness amongst many toward improved hygiene and the use of antimicrobial textiles. Generally, natural herbal components are known to possess antimicrobial properties which are green and eco-friendly. This research reports a novel and innovative method of developing and optimising nano-emulsions using two combinations of herbal extracts produced from Moringa oleifera, curry leaf, coconut oil (nano-emulsion 1) and other using Aegle marmelos with curry leaf and coconut oil (nano-emulsion 2). Nano-emulsions were optimised for their pH, thermal stability, and particle size, and percentage add-on. Organic cotton fabrics (20 and 60 gsm) were finished with nano-emulsions using continuous and batch processes and characterised for their surface morphology using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The finished fabrics were evaluated for their Whiteness Index, assessed for antimicrobial resistance against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) using AATCC 100 and 147 methods. In addition, fabrics were assessed for their antifungal efficacy (AATCC 30), tensile strength and air permeability. Results suggested that finished organic fabrics with nano-emulsions had antimicrobial resistance, antifungal, wash fastness after 20 washing cycles, and sufficient strength. This novel finishing method suggests that organic cotton fabrics treated with nano-emulsions can be used as a durable antimicrobial textile for healthcare and hygiene textiles.

Download Full-text

Enhanced Antibacterial Efficiency of Cellulosic Fibers: Microencapsulation and Green Grafting Strategies

Coatings ◽

10.3390/coatings11080980 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 980 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dorra Dridi ◽

Aicha Bouaziz ◽

Sondes Gargoubi ◽

Abir Zouari ◽

Fatma B’chir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibacterial Activity ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Cotton Fabrics ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Wall Material ◽

Chemical Components ◽

Syzygium Aromaticum ◽

Disk Diffusion Test ◽

Cellulosic Fibers

We report an analysis of chemical components of essential oils from barks of Ceylon cinnamon and cloves of Syzygium aromaticum and an investigation of their antibacterial activity. The components of oils were determined by using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, and the antimicrobial activity was assessed by the disk diffusion test. The synergic effect of essential oils mixture (cinnamon oil and clove oil) was evaluated. Antimicrobial properties were conferred to cellulosic fibers through microencapsulation using citric acid as a green binding agent. Essential oil mixture was encapsulated by coacervation using chitosan as a wall material and sodium hydroxide as a hardening agent. The diameter of the produced microcapsules varies between 12 and 48 μm. Attachment of the produced microcapsules onto cotton fabrics surface was confirmed by Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transformed Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, optical microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. The results show that microcapsules were successfully attached on cotton fabric surfaces, imparting antibacterial activity without significantly affecting their properties. The finished cotton fabrics exhibited good mechanical properties and wettability.

Download Full-text

Enhancement of Thermal Stability, Flame Retardancy, and Antimicrobial Properties of Cotton Fabrics Functionalized by Inorganic Nanocomposites

Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research ◽

10.1021/ie502584m ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 53 (50) ◽

pp. 19512-19524 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

V. Rajendran ◽

N. R. Dhineshbabu ◽

R. Rajesh Kanna ◽

Karan V. I. S. Kaler

Keyword(s):

Thermal Stability ◽

Flame Retardancy ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Cotton Fabrics ◽

Inorganic Nanocomposites

Download Full-text

Application of zinc oxide nano particles using polymeric binders on cotton fabric

Research Journal of Textile and Apparel ◽

10.1108/rjta-02-2021-0018 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Neha Mulchandani ◽

Vishaka Karnad

Keyword(s):

Zno Nanoparticles ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Antibacterial Property ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Cotton Fabrics ◽

Air Permeability ◽

Test Method ◽

Nano Particles ◽

Content Type ◽

Polymeric Binders

Purpose The durability of antimicrobial agents and its effectiveness is the most important factor for consumer usage. One important class of antimicrobial agents are inorganic metals and their metal oxides which can be prepared into nanoparticles and can be imparted to enhance the antimicrobial properties. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of three different polymeric binders during the application of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on the antimicrobial and performance properties of the finished fabric. Design/methodology/approach In this study, ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by a wet chemical method. The nano-particles size distributions was determined using Nanoplus Dynamic Light Scattering particle size distribution analyzer and concentration of nano ZnO 0.1% (w/v) was applied with 2% (w/v) polymeric binders, namely, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyurethane (PU) and butyl acrylic (BA) on cotton fabric by pad dry cure method. The treated samples were tested for physical properties such as tearing strength, tensile strength, crease recovery and air permeability and antimicrobial properties using test method American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) 100. Further, the content of zinc in the treated samples was determined by the atomic absorption method. The treated fabric was analyzed using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopic and also tested for cytotoxicity as per International Organization for Standardization 10993. Findings The results indicated that the type of polymeric binders did not show any influence on the uptake of the zinc content. All treated samples showed positive results >99% with regard to antibacterial property. However, the polymeric treated samples showed a difference in physical properties. The ZnO nano-finish reduced the tensile strength and tearing strength of the fabrics. The difference in crease recovery for samples ZnO/PVA and ZnO/PU was not much except for ZnO/BA where it increased by 38%. The air permeability decreased after application for all treated samples, the lowest among treated samples was in ZnO/PU fabric. Further, ZnO/PVA finished fabric was found to retain antibacterial property up to 50 washes and was effective against MS2 Bacteriophage as a surrogate virus when analyzed as per AATCC 100–2012 test method, and therefore can be potentially used as health-care apparel such as doctors coat and scrub suits. Originality/value The outcome of this research is in its contribution to the field of reusable textiles. It highlights the use of nanotechnology to design and develop cotton fabrics for antimicrobial properties which has the potential of preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. The study brings forth the use of ZnO nanoparticles mixed with PVA binder on 100% cotton fabrics which exhibits antibacterial and antiviral properties with adequate wash durability. Currently, there is a high demand of effective durable textiles with barrier properties and the present study provides a promising solution to provide reusable textiles with a greater level of protection.

Download Full-text

Cotton Fabric Finished by WPU/LPAA Modified Nano-ZnO for Antibacterial Applications

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.711.123 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 711 ◽

pp. 123-128

Author(s):

Qun Li ◽

Pei Yao Li ◽

Xi Hui Zhao ◽

Xiao Wen Li ◽

Jian Ping Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Antibacterial Activity ◽

Surface Modification ◽

Cotton Fabric ◽

Antibacterial Agent ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Cotton Fabrics ◽

E Coli ◽

Baking Process ◽

Fabric Surface

An antibacterial agent (ZPU) was prepared by surface modification of nanoZnO with aliphatic aqueous polyurethane (WPU) and polyacrylates sodium of lower molecular weight (LPAA). Then two kinds of cotton fabrics were dipped in ZPU and finally finished by paking-baking process. ZPU and the finished cotton fabrics were characterized by SEM, TEM and DLS. The antimicrobial properties of the cotton fabrics were investigated. The results indicated that ZnO retained nanosize with little aggregation on the fabric surface. The finished cotton fabrics showed obviously antibacterial activity againstS. aureusandE. coliwith the 24 h antibacterial rate of 99%.

Download Full-text