Green and novel approach for enhancing flame retardancy, UV protection and mechanical properties of fabrics utilized in historical textile fabrics conservation

Abstract

Innovative, green and sustainable multifunctional historical textile coating was developed. The developed coating was constructed from renewable molokhia extract and naturally deposited halloysite nanotubes in presence of chitosan chains. The halloysite nanotubes were wrapped with molokhia extract and then uniformly dispersed in chitosan solution using ultrasonication process and then, coated on linen textile fabrics surface. The thermal stability, surface morphology and structural properties of the treated linen fabrics were investigated using microscopic, spectroscopic and thermogravimetric tools. The mass loadings of molokhia extract and halloysite nanotubes in coating layer are varied. The flammability, mechanical and UV protection properties of the coated and uncoated linen fabrics were evaluated. The flame retardancy properties of developed textile fabrics was significantly improved achieved reduction in rate of burning by 50.2% (40 mm/min) compared to untreated linen fabrics (80.3 mm/min). The tensile strength and elongation properties of developed textile fabrics were improved by 22 and 35%, respectively, compared to untreated linen. Additionally, the ultraviolet rays protective properties of the developed textile fabrics were highly enhanced achieving improvement in ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) by 57%. Moreover, the developed green coating achieved good antibacterial properties for textile fabrics recording 11 mm of clear inhibition zone compared to zero for untreated fabrics. Thus, the smart and green textile coating developed in this study exhibiting a new strategy for historical textile conservation against harmful UV rays, failure in tensile strength and fire hazard properties.