1Textile Division, National Research Centre, El-Behoth St. Dokki, Cairo, EGYPT
2Department of Spinning, Weaving and Knitting Engineering, Faculty of Applied Arts, Helwan University, EGYPT
Online published on 21 November, 2017.
Novel and simple technique for imparting cellulosebased curtain fabrics superior ultraviolet protective properties by in situ deposition of zinc oxide nanoparticles from zinc acetate onto alkali pre-treated fabrics was developed. The reducing properties of alkaline cellulose was exploited to reduce Zn acetate to zinc oxide nanoparticles at higher temperature. Cotton based curtain fabric used in this study were 100% cotton, cotton/viscose, cotton/lined, cotton/PES, PES/viscose and PES/linen blend fabrics. The most appropriate conditions for this novel and simple technique, included type of yarn used in manufacture of the fabrics, concentrations of NaOH and Znacetate, curing time and temperature were investigated. The fabrics were monitored for ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), tensile strength, elongation at break as well as scanning electron microscope (SEM), electron diffraction x-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results obtained show that, the UPF of the treated fabrics attained its maximum values when the fabrics were treated with 3% NaOH then dried at 85°C for 5 min. The alkali treated fabrics were then treated with 4% Znacetate, and cured at 110°C for 5 min. The ultimate UPF of the treated fabrics depends on the fabric type. Treated PES/linen blending fabric shows the maximum UPF (82) whereas the treated 100% cotton fabric shows the lowest UPF values (55.3). These values of UPF are much higher than those UPF values before treatments (4.1 and 19.1 respectively). XRD of the fabrics after in-situ precipitation of ZnO nanoparticles shows that, the size of the formed ZnO crystals ranging from 0.24–0.44 nm and the particles shape were hexagonal or cubic depending on the fabric type.
Cotton, Polyester, Linen, Viscose, Fabrics, Curtain, ZnO, nanoparticles, UV protection, UPF
