Innovative ecological method for producing easy care characteristics and antibacterial activity onto viscose fabric using glutaraldehyde and chitosan nanoparticles

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to explore the incorporation of the authors previously prepared chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) of size around 60-100 nm in the cross-linking formulation of viscose fabrics to see CNPs impact in terms of imparting multi-functional characteristics such as tensile strength, dry wrinkle recovery angles and antibacterial properties.Design/methodology/approachCNPs of size around 60-100 nm were incorporated in cross-linking formulations for viscose fabrics, including different concentrations of glutaraldehyde as a non-formaldehyde cross-linking agent and magnesium chloride hexahydrate as a catalyst. The formulations were applied at different curing times and temperatures in 100 mL distilled water, giving rise to a wet pickup of ca. 85 per cent. The fabrics were dried for 3 min at 85°C and cured at specified temperatures for fixed time intervals in thermo fixing oven according to the traditional pad-dry-cure method.FindingsThe above eco-friendly method for finished viscose fabrics was found to obtain high dry wrinkle recovery angle and maintain the tensile strength of the finished fabric within the acceptable range, as well as antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as a gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, respectively. Both, scanning electron microscope and nitrogen percent on the finished fabric confirm the penetration of CNPs inside the fabric structure. Finally, viscose fabrics pageant antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria assessed even after 20 washing cycle.Research limitations/implicationsCNPs with its flourishing effect with respect to cationic nature, biodegradability, reactivity, higher surface area and antimicrobial activity; in addition to glutaraldehyde as non-formaldehyde finishing agent can be used as multi-functional agents for viscose fabrics instead of DMDHEU, polyacrylate and monomeric composites as hazardous materials.Practical implicationsCNPs as cationic biopolymers were expected to impart multi-functional properties to viscose fabrics especially with obtaining reasonable dry wrinkle recovery angle and tensile strength in addition to antibacterial properties.Originality/valueThe novelty addressed here is undertaken with a view to impart easy care characteristics and antibacterial activities onto viscose fabrics using CNPs as antimicrobial agent and glutaraldehyde as non-formaldehyde durable press finishes to-replace the traditional formaldehyde-based resins. Besides, to the authors’ knowledge, there is no published work so far using the above cross-linking formulation written above.