Synergistic Effect of Plasma and Cationic Pretreated Polyester or Cotton Fabrics Finished with Metal OxideNanocomposites on Multifunctional Properties

Abstract

The main objective of the current research work is to develop newlinemultifunctional textiles, using metal oxide nanocomposites. newlinePolyester/cotton blended (50/50) fabrics were selected for this newlinework, considering various parameters like high consumption, newlinelow cost, ecofriendly and easily functionalized. TiO2, ZnO, newlineCuO, Fe2O3, MgO and Al2O3 metal oxide nanoparticles were newlinesynthesized, using hydrothermal method and characterized newlineusing PSA, UV-Visible spectroscopy, XRD, FESEM, EDAX newlineand antimicrobial testing. Two combinations of newlinenanocomposites were prepared and composition of each newlinenanocomposite was optimized by Box-Behnken design newline(BBD), on the basis of their antimicrobial activity. The newlinenanocomposites exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity newlinewhen compared to their individual metal oxides. The fabrics newlinewere pretreated by plasma and cationization and the newlinepretreatment parameters were also optimized using BBD newlinebased on the results of wicking height and absorbency. The newlinesamples finished with nanocomposites showed very good newlineantimicrobial activity against E.coli, S.aureus, A.niger and newlineT.viride. The samples also showed good UPF values and selfcleaning newlineproperties. Among the twelve fabrics, the fabrics newlinecombinatorialy pretreated with both plasma and cationic newlineagent, and finished with nanocomposites showed higher newlinefunctional properties. This is because of the fact that the newlinepretreatment procedures modified the fabric surfaces to a good newlineextent, making them absorb more nanocomposites. These newlinefabrics were subjected to wash durability analysis, which newlinerevealed an 80% retention of functional properties even after newline20 laundering cycles. Skin irritation analysis by HET-CAM newlinetest showed that the fabrics at the proposed concentration do newlinenot have any toxic effects on the chorioallantoic membrane. newlineThe fabrics were also evaluated using various physical testing newlinemethods. From the research, the nanocomposite treated fabrics newlinewere proved to possess excellent multifunctional properties newlineand it can be used in various fields like apparels, healthcare, newlinemedical and other