Copper-Treated Environmentally Friendly Antipathogenic Cotton Fabric with Modified Reactive Blue 4 Dye to Improve Its Antibacterial and Aesthetic Properties

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The objectives of the present study were to develop an environmentally friendly, low-price, easy, and fast method for developing antipathogenic (antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral) cuprous-oxide-coated multifunctional fabrics. The fabrics were first sensitized with citric acid, and then Cu2O particles were formed using the Fehling solution method. The cuprous oxide particles were then applied to the cotton fabrics. To create the Cu2O particles, three different kinds of reducing agents with varying concentrations were used. SEM, dynamic light scattering, FTIR, EDS, and XRD were used to examine the surface morphologies and metal presences. In the second step, a reactive antibacterial dye was made (by reacting Reactive Blue 4 with triclosan). The molecular structure of the modified dye was confirmed with FTIR. The resultant antibacterial dye was applied on the copper-treated cotton fabrics in accordance with the exhaust dyeing protocol. The dyed fabrics were characterized through the colorimetric data (L*, a*, b*, C, H, and K/S), levelness of dye, fastness properties as well as exhaustion and fixation rates. Cuprous-oxide-coated fabrics were tested for antipathogenic activity using quantitative and qualitative measurement results. The fabrics treated with cuprous oxide particles reduced with sodium hydrosulfite at 1 g/L seemed to have the highest antipathogenic effect. Moreover, the versatility of the hygienically developed bioactive fabrics in terms of their comfort properties such as air permeability and stiffness were investigated. Finally, the coating’s durability was confirmed by evaluating its antibacterial properties and performing an SEM analysis after laundry.