Utilizing some synthesized nanostructured materials to improve the functional properties of cotton fabric for possible applications

Abstract

The potential of the synthesized Copper Oxide (CuO)and Graphene Oxide (GO)nanostructures as an efficient modifier for cotton fabric surface, to enhance its functional properties when dyed with C.I. Reactive Yellow 160 (RY 160) was investigated. For this purpose, Copper Oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) and Graphene Oxide nanoparticles (GO NPs) were synthesized and characterized through SEM, and EDX analysis, TEM analysis, FTIR spectrum analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The cotton fabric was first treated separately with CuO NPs and GO NPs, and then dyed with RY160. The dye exhaustion percentages (E%) of pretreated cotton fabric samples were compared with their corresponding values obtained through conventional dyeing of untreated cotton. Dye adsorption rate constants according to pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and intra-particle diffusion kinetic models were calculated. Moreover, the diffusion coefficients and the activation energy of diffusion of RY160 into cotton fabrics were calculated before and after NPs treatment. The activation energy of diffusion of RY160 into pretreated GO NPs-cotton fabric was the lowest value, saving 44.06% of the energy required for conventional dyeing completion. The overall adsorption process follows pseudo-second order kinetics and intraparticle diffusion model. The corresponding thermodynamic parameters, namely enthalpy (∆ H), entropy (∆ S ), and free energy changes (∆ G ), were also calculated for untreated cotton fabric and compared with the data obtained for treated cotton fabrics after surface modification via synthesized nanomaterials, CuO NPs and GO NPs. The NPs treatment produces a cotton fabric with advanced color fastness and antibacterial properties enabling them to improve human health care and decrease the environmental impacts and fabric damage.