Greener bio-based spherical nanoparticles for efficient multilayer textile fabrics nanocoating with outstanding fire retardancy, toxic gases suppression, reinforcement and antibacterial properties

Abstract

Herein, sustainable and innovative textile fabrics nanocoatings were developed achieving textile fabrics with superior fire safety, antibacterial, reinforcement and toxic gases suppression properties. Hence, spherical rennet casein nanoparticles were synthesized for the first time using energy saving and green magnetic stirring tool at ambient condition yielded nanoparticles of an average size of 116 nm. Moreover, spherical chitosan nanoparticles of an average size of 26 nm were also synthesized using the same approach. The size and distribution of newly developed nanoparticles were optimized using varied stirring time intervals (24–96 h). The developed spherical nanoparticles were elucidated using dynamic light scattering and microscopic tools. Then, the fabricated polyanions rennet casein nanoparticles and polycations chitosan nanoparticles were utilized as an alternating bilayer for constructing nanocoating on the surface of cotton and polyester fabrics individually by layer-by-layer approach. The bilayers coating number was altered in 3, 5 and 10 multilayers. The flame retardancy of developed textile fabrics was significantly improved achieving zero rate of burning and 34% of limiting oxygen index (LOI) value compared to 119 mm/min and 18.5% for uncoated cotton sample. This is in addition to outstanding toxic gases suppression achieving 76%, 73% and 64% for CO2, CO and SO2, respectively. Additionally, significant enhancement in tensile strength of coated fabrics was attained recording 241% improvement. The newly developed textile fabrics coatings inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli bacteria on surface of both cotton and polyester fabrics achieving clear inhibition zone of 16 mm. The developed sustainable coatings afford durable properties to textile fabrics. Moreover, the flame retardancy, toxic gases suppression mechanisms and economic feasibility for scalable production were studied.