Abstract
We propose a method of crosslinking multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with cotton fabric. 3-Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxy silane (GPTMS) polymer was used for the stabilization and modification of the surfaces of MWCNTs. The presence of tannic acid in the finishing formulation adds a sustainable functionality to the treated surface. The formation of the GPTMS–MWCNTs nanocomposite as well as the MWCNTs–GPTMS tannic-epoxy nanocomposite on the fabric surface was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR). The surface morphology and physical properties were investigated. An assessment of antibacterial activity, UV-protective properties, and electrical conductivity was performed. The post-treatment results of the MWCNTs–GPTMS nanocomposite fabric with tannic acid exhibited superior antibacterial character with the highest inhibition zones for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (26 mm, 24 mm). On the contrary, the electrical conductivity was negatively impacted. The treatment of cotton fabric with tannic acid showed a great UV-protection-factor estimation of 96.2, which was additionally improved by treatment with MWCNTs 152.1. Cotton fabric treated with cotton/GPTMS/tannic acid/MWCNTs as well as cotton/GPTMS/MWCNTs recorded the highest electrical-conductivity properties. Fabrication of MWCNTs–GPTMS/tannic-acid-nanocomposite-coated cotton fabric for durable antibacterial and UV protection with improved electrical and physical properties was successfully achieved.
Highlights
Nanomaterials are used to design smart textiles for improving the properties of textiles such as wound healing, self-cleaning and military application [1,2,3,4]
Due to the hydrophobic nature of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and their aggregation in an aqueous solution, Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxy silane (GPTMS) was added to the modified MWCNT surfaces in order to enhance their hydrophilicity [31]
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Summary
Nanomaterials are used to design smart textiles for improving the properties of textiles such as wound healing, self-cleaning and military application [1,2,3,4]. Water-soluble carbon nanotubes were functionalized in alkali and acidic solutions and incorporated into a poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) network followed by the coating of a polypropylene thread in order to improve its mechanical properties [21]. CNTs were dispersed in poly-vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) medium and deposited onto cotton fabric using a curing method under UV-C irradiation [22] In another recent study, a conductive super-hydrophobic cotton fabric was developed by assembling carboxylated and aminated multiwalled carbon nanotubes and modifying them with polydimethylsiloxane [23]. Coating of Fabrics Using GPTMS/MWCNTs/Tannic Acid Nanocomposite Clean cotton fabric was immersed in ethanol and sonicated for 15 min to remove organic material and detergent, washed with distilled water and dried at 100 ◦C; the fabrics were first dipped in solutions of tannic acid in GPTMS–MWCNTs–based solutions, each dip for 2 min. To provide a rapid quantitative and qualitative examination of the elemental composition, a SEM equipped with an energy-dispersive spectroscope (EDX) with accelerating voltage of 30 kV FELCO Netherland was used to perform elemental analysis of the particles
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