Hydrothermal Treatment of Wool Fibers with Tetrabutyl Titanate and Chitosan

Abstract

In order to improve the dye depth of TiO2-modified wool fibers, chitosan is incorporated with tetrabutyl titanate in preparing the nanosized TiO2 particles, which are loaded on the surfaces of wool fibers, during hydrothermal process. The TiO2 coated wool fibers are subsequently dyed with Lansol Blue 3G. The structural changes of wool fibers before and after treatments are characterized by several techniques, such as field emission scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and diffuse reflectance spectrum. The properties of tensile, antibacterial activity, yellowness and whiteness indices, dye uptake, K/S value, color fastness to washing, rubbing, and artificial light are also compared. It is found that the as-prepared TiO2 particles with pure anatase phase are easy to agglomerate because of the introduction of chitosan. Meanwhile, the aggregated particles are deposited on the surface of wool fibers via a simple hydrothermal route. Compared with the original wool fibers, the thermal behaviors of the TiO2 coated wool fibers change slightly. The performances of UV protection, antibacterial activity, dyeing depth, and color fastness to wet rubbing and artificial light are improved to some degree. However, the tensile properties of wool fibers decrease but not too much.