Multifunctional Smart Nanocolorants for Simultaneous Printing and Antibacterial Finishing of Cotton Fabrics

Abstract

THE presented work studied the synthesis of a new multifunctional smart nanocolorant based on natural clay (montmorillonite K10), chitosan and metal nanoparticles (CuO, ZnO, TiO2 or Ag) using ultrasonic technology. The prepared nanocolorants were characterized for their particle size and properties. These nanocolrants were used in printing paste for application to cotton fabric before and after sonication. Surface morphology antibacterial activity and fastness properties were evaluated for treated fabrics. It is observed that fabrics printed with prepared materials after sonication acquire much smoother surface than those printed with prepared materials before sonication. The new hybrid particles are small enough to diffuse into fibers and they create high fastness properties. In addition, printed fabrics with hybrids particles are highly fixed on the fabric surface.