Woven Cotton Research Articles

Mechanical Textile Recycling Efficiency: Sample Configuration, Treatment Effects and Fibre Opening Assessment

The mechanical textile recycling process significantly reduces fibre length. Previously, we explored how lubricant pre-treatment before mechanical recycling reduced the fibre length loss. In this study, we added simulated wear to assess its influence on the fibre length output. We also evaluated the influence of sample shape and feed direction on recycling efficiency. We treated plain woven cotton textiles were subjected to either sandpaper grinding or steel needle raising. Finishing treatments with polyethylene glycol 4000 and Afilan CFA 100 were also used in combination. Samples were prepared in two shapes and fed into the recycling machine with warp threads oriented longitudinally, perpendicularly, or diagonally. Recycling efficiency was evaluated based on fibre length and the degree of fibre opening using a novel air flow permeability test. The results showed that sandpaper treatment degraded fibres, while the raising treatment improved recycling efficiency. A previously unreported finding was that the size, shape and feeding direction of woven fabrics showed significant effects on the fibre length output. Material fed with a thread system aligned longitudinally to the recycling machine direction resulted in a higher proportion of opened fibres and fewer unopened fabric pieces. It was further observed that the yarns aligned longitudinally with the feed direction exhibited significant opening, while those oriented perpendicularly remained largely unopened. The new method for measuring the degree of opened fibres proved effective and holds promise for future application. These findings provide tangible guidance on the mechanical recycling protocol and means to improve output assessment procedures.

Optimization of Combined Pre-Treatment Process for Bleaching of Cotton Woven Fabric Using Box–Behnken Design

ABSTRACT The conventional bleaching process for cotton woven fabrics is characterized by high consumption of chemicals, water, and energy, resulting in significant environmental impact through elevated energy use and wastewater discharge. To address these concerns and align with sustainable development goals, there is an urgent need for eco-friendly alternatives that minimize environmental footprint while maintaining fabric quality. This study presents the development and optimization of a novel one-bath pre-treatment process for cotton bleaching, employing the Box-Behnken design to enhance sustainability. The optimized process utilizes 32% hydrogen peroxide and 12% sodium hydroxide based on fabric weight, operating at 90°C. The application of the Box-Behnken design facilitated substantial reductions in chemical usage, energy consumption, and wastewater output. The results demonstrated notable improvements in fabric properties, with a whiteness index of 139.5, weight loss of 7.9%, and tensile strengths of 404.9 N (warp) and 259.5 N (weft). Moreover, fabric absorbency increased by 9.3% compared to conventional methods. The findings underscore the efficacy of the Box-Behnken design in optimizing a more sustainable and eco-friendly bleaching process, which not only significantly enhances fabric performance but also offers considerable environmental benefits. This approach presents a promising solution for the textile industry to achieve greener practices while maintaining high-quality standards.

ANTIVIRAL TEXTILES AND ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY TESTING - THE USE OF BACTERIOPHAGE SURROGATE FOR ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY TESTING

The risk of dissemination of highly contagious viral diseases (as COVID-19, Ebola) led in the increasing need to develop functional textiles and surfaces with antiviral effect. Antiviral textiles are designed to reduce the viability and infectivity of viruses on their surfaces and by this way to reduce the cases of infection (including re-infection or cross-infection with contaminated textiles). Different antiviral agents and diverse techniques of their application are used for functionalized textiles manufacturing. The most often used antivirals are metallic and ionic silver and copper, iron oxide, quaternary ammonium salts. The aim of the process is to prepare textiles with long-term durable finishing effective in viral activity inhibition. The basic step of functionalized antiviral textiles development is antiviral effectivity testing. The safe method of testing with the use of Phi6 bacteriophage, SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola virus surrogate, was modified for antiviral textiles testing. The samples of textiles with antiviral finishing were tested by the bacteriophage-based method and excellent antiviral activity was detected for all tested materials. The woven cotton was used as reference untreated material, the different textile cotton structures with similar square weight were compared and no statistically significant difference was found between the resulting antiviral efficacy values. A simple and quickly feasible screening method for determining the antiviral properties of textiles, especially with leaching-type of treatment, was also designed and tested.

Dyeing of Cotton Woven Fabric Using Sustainable Natural Dye (Date Leaves) and Bio-Mordants

This study on natural dyes has been chosen for a sustainable dyeing method on textile through the using of 99% cotton 1% spandex woven fabric. The dye was produced from the Date Palm Leaf (Phoenix dactylifera L) using Soxhlet machine through continuous extraction method and dyed using natural bio-mordant eucalyptus, guava leaf. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) test was carried for nanoparticle characterization along with color measurements with specular and UV include mode. The dyed fabrics were also assessed for wash fastness, fastness against perspiration, dry rubbing and wet rubbing property. In most of the cases the fastness property of sample without mordant is better than with mordant. Cotton fabric is used for dyeing to make it sustainable and to reduce the dependency on synthetic dyes; the natural material can also reduce the pressure on synthetic material.

Functional textile surface production by analysing the mechanical properties of cotton, bamboo and linen woven surfaces

In the textile industry, it is seen that the use of nanomaterials is increasing to meet the demands for long-lasting and sustainable products. This research aims to improve the mechanical properties of 1×1 plain weave cotton, bamboo and linen surfaces made of natural yarns by coating them with ZnO, TiO2 and SiO2 to provide sustainable natural life and create a sustainable functional textile surface. For this reason, coatings were made with nanoparticles and applied to textile surfaces. The blade (stripping knife) coating method with subsequent dosing was used when the coating agent was liquid with an appropriate viscosity value. The surface morphology of the treated fabric was characterized by SEM, EDS and FT-IR analysis. Mechanical properties were analysed by thickness, weight and tear strength tests and antibacterial activity against S. Aureus and E. Coli bacteria were tested. When the results were examined, it was determined that cotton, linen and bamboo surfaces, which did not have antibacterial properties except for E. Coli (49.56%), showed antibacterial properties (100%) in bamboo and linen after coating with ZnO and TiO2 , and in bamboo after coating with SiO2 . The coating material also caused different effects in terms of thickness, weight and strength change.

Effect of natural agents on the mechanical and flame retardant properties of cotton fabrics – finishing technique

The current study carefully examines the antibacterial finished cotton fabric materials in terms of enhanced flame-retardant capability by eco-friendly herbal extracts to cotton fabrics while concurrently analysing their tensile strength qualities. Because active compounds have been incorporated into the fabric’s structure, the treated fabrics’ tensile strength has changed less over time than untreated fabrics. The plain weave cotton fabric with a specification of 140 g/m2 and a 15% finished concentration had a tensile strength of 238.92 kg/cm2, while cotton fabrics with specifications of 240 g/m2, terry weave with a 15% finished concentration, had a tensile strength of 294.43 kg/cm2. The finishing process has betterment in comparison to the untreated cotton fabrics had tensile strengths of of 140 g/m2 plain and 240 g/m2 terry weaves fabric which has 238.38 kg/cm2 and 288.47 kg/cm2, indicating that the ashwagandha-finished cotton fabrics performed better. The burning period increases from 35 sec for untreated 140 g/m2 plain cotton fabric, according to the flame reaction studies. According to tests on flame reaction, fabrics treated with a combination of banana peels and casein have a burning time rise from 35 s for untreated 140 g/m2 plain cotton fabric to 100 s, and up to 60 s for Ashwaganda and Ginger completed fabrics. The findings of the Limited Oxygen Index (LOI) test revealed that the completed fabrics made from a mixture of banana peels and casein had significantly higher LOI values of 23 than the other treated samples, which had an average LOI of 19 and 20, compared to the untreated cotton fabrics’ LOI of 18.

A study on the formulation of process parameters for soft finger-assisted fabric stitching

PurposeTo reduce the difficulty of the sewing process and promote the automation process of fabric sewing, a soft finger-assisted feeding method is proposed to investigate the effect of sewing process parameters on the quality of automatic sewing.Design/methodology/approachTaking cotton woven fabrics as an example, the causes of sewing deviation are firstly investigated from three aspects: fabric properties, sewing speed and sewing edge position. By simulating the sewing action of human hands, the method of reducing sewing deviation by using soft fingers to press and feed the fabric is proposed. Then, four sewing process factors, namely, robot arm end pressure, sewing machine speed, sewing needle gauge and stitch density, were selected, and three levels were set for each factor to design orthogonal sewing experiments. The sewing deviation of 1# sample under different sewing processes was measured, and the optimal parameter matching for automatic sewing of this specimen was derived.FindingsThe findings demonstrate that, while sewing cloth automatically, the sewing deviation is significantly influenced by the robotic arm's end pressure, sewing speed, and stitch density, whereas the sewing deviation is not significantly impacted by the needle number.Originality/valueThe findings offer fundamental information for the development of an automated sewing procedure using soft fingers, which has theoretical and real-world application value to speed up the intelligent modernization and transformation of the apparel industry.

Prediction of optical characteristics of thermochromic dyes on cotton fabrics at different temperatures and concentrations

The introduction of thermochromic materials in the textile industry has initiated a significant transformation, enabling the creation of dynamic textile designs. A key feature of this advancement is the ability to predict and control the color changes of these materials at specific temperatures, as well as to assess their durability when incorporated into textiles. This research aims to predict the optical responses of thermochromic dyes on woven cotton fabrics, both when applied individually and in combination, across various temperatures and concentrations. Different proportions of thermochromic dyes were printed onto the fabrics. A system was developed for precise, non-contact spectral analysis of the printed samples. Reflection measurements of the samples were conducted within the temperature range of 18–33 °C. Subsequently, colorimetric and absorption values were calculated and analyzed across various temperatures and concentrations. The ( k s ) u values exhibited a linear relationship with varying concentrations but followed a non-linear trend, specifically a third-order equation, at different temperatures. By calculating and performing regression analysis for ( k s ) u , it is possible to model and predict the spectral behavior for both individual and mixed samples to across a range of temperatures and concentrations, achieving a correlation coefficient above 0.95.

Evaluating cotton apparel with dynamic life cycle assessment: The climate benefits of temporary biogenic carbon storage

Static life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies fail to consider the temporal profiles of system inputs and outputs (including emission timing), such that they underestimate the benefits of temporarily stored biogenic carbon in bioproducts, such as cotton. This research focuses on greenhouse gas emission timing and applies dynamic emission accounting to the life cycle of cotton woven pants. The significance of temporary biogenic carbon storage and emission timing is illustrated by converting the 2017 Cotton Incorporated static LCA to a dynamic model using the Dynamic Carbon Footprinter (baseline scenario). A reduction in cumulative radiative forcing for dynamic relative to static modeling of 22%, 5%, and 2% are observed at 10-years, 30-years, and 100-years, respectively. Alternative scenarios analyzed include converting cotton woven pants at end of life to bioenergy, to compost, or to building insulation, an alternative cotton production scenario using regenerative agricultural practices, and two pants extended lifetime scenarios. The regenerative agricultural practice scenario provides reductions in cumulative impacts compared to the baseline scenario of 96%, 69%, and 105% after 10, 30, and 100-years, respectively. A 3x extension in the lifetime of pants provides a benefit in reduced cumulative impacts of 31%, 40%, and 41%, after 10, 30, and 100-years, respectively. This case study with cotton demonstrates that dynamic LCA is a useful tool for assessing the benefits of biobased products, and it allows for more nuanced analysis of reductions in climate impacts in both the short- and long-term time horizons.

Effect of natural thickener on printing performance over cotton woven fabric

Execution of natural thickener (wild taro corm) over pretreated cotton woven fabric with reactive dye has been explored in this research work. Taro root was collected from Sherpur in Bangladesh and made into a fine powder using a grinder. Thickener pastes were prepared by using different concentrations of taro powder, then their viscosity was measured to find out the difference with sodium alginate thickener, which is traditionally used for reactive printing. A suitable thickener stock paste concentration was selected from a number of trials and depending on the result of visual sharpness of the printed samples. A suitable reactive printing method was selected between all in (1 step) and 2 step methods of reactive printing and finally the amount of thickener on the printing recipe was optimized. The color fastness to wash, color fastness to rubbing, bending length, K/S value, levelness, penetration%, print paste adds on and visual sharpness were measured to assess the printing quality. The findings indicate that when Taro corm powder is combined with boiled water, it produces a solution with higher viscosity. Additionally, a mixture of 15 % taro and boiled water yields the most distinct print outline. Comparatively, the 2-step reactive printing method offers a superior outline compared to the 1-step (all in one) method. Moreover, using 50 to 60 gm of taro corm thickening paste for every 100 g of print paste results in a higher K/S value. The results revealed that the wild taro corm could be used successfully as thickener for reactive printing. Finally, the cost was also calculated, and it was found economical as well compared to sodium alginate.

Single Layer Silk and Cotton Woven Fabrics for Acoustic Emission and Active Sound Suppression.

Whether intentionally generating acoustic waves or attempting to mitigate unwanted noise, sound control is an area of challenge and opportunity. This study investigates traditional fabrics as emitters and suppressors of sound. When attached to a single strand of a piezoelectric fiber actuator, a silk fabric emits up to 70dB of sound. Despite the complex fabric structure, vibrometer measurements reveal behavior reminiscent of a classical thin plate. Fabric pore size relative to the viscous boundary layer thickness is found-through comparative fabric analysis-to influence acoustic-emission efficiency. Sound suppression is demonstrated using two distinct mechanisms. In the first, direct acoustic interference is shown to reduce sound by up to 37 dB. The second relies on pacifying the fabric vibrations by the piezoelectric fiber, reducing the amplitude of vibration waves by 95% and attenuating the transmitted sound by up to 75%. Interestingly, this vibration-mediated suppression in principle reduces sound in an unlimited volume. It also allows the acoustic reflectivity of the fabric to be dynamically controlled, increasing by up to 68%. The sound emission and suppression efficiency of a 130 µm silk fabric presents opportunities for sound control in a variety of applications ranging from apparel to transportation to architecture.

A COMPARISON OF THE THREE TECHNIQUES IN PREDICTING BREAKING STRENGTH OF COTTON AND BLENDED WOVEN FABRICS

With the development of technology, artificial intelligence applications in the textile industry are increasing. The uses of these methods present very good results in cases where statistical methods are lacking in the accurate evaluation and analysis of the past data of the enterprises and the estimation of their future situations. In this study, some models are developed, based on this relationship, to estimate the breaking strength of cotton woven fabrics and polyester/viscose blended woven fabrics separately. Breaking strength is considered one of the most important performance characteristics of woven fabrics. It is mostly determined by the structural elements of the fabric. Multiple linear regression, artificial neural networks and random forest algorithms are employed to perform statistical and stochastic analyses on these elements by using industrial data. A total of 147 fabric data sets in warp and weft directions were used for training and test data in cotton fabrics, and 53 fabric data sets in warp and weft directions in blended fabrics. Appropriate models are generated by using Minitab Statistics and Matlab software. Yarn linear densities, yarn production methods, twist amounts, fabric densities, crimp ratios, unit area weights, various weave factors and fabric structure factors were selected as variables of the models estimating the breaking strength of fabrics in both warp and weft directions. These factors were included in the models separately, and the subset that gave the best results was selected and the models were revised. For the three models created, it was seen that the regression models and models based on artificial neural networks performed well in both cotton fabrics and blended fabrics, while random forest algorithms were not very accurate in estimating the breaking strength.

Compatibilizing of cotton fabric with hydrophobic drug cover layer for anti-inflammatory performance with the implementation of ibuprofen

This paper presents active analgesic and anti-inflammatory dressings based on cotton woven material with surface functionalization enabling drug implementation. For this purpose, lactide was polymerized on the surface of cotton textiles to achieve better compatibility with hydrophobic drug and polylactide (PLA)-based macromolecules. Subsequently, ibuprofen-loaded PLA and PLA-PEG were implemented through the exhausting method. Such material was tested for cytotoxicity (toward L929 mouse fibroblasts) and anti-inflammatory activity (towards human Hs68 fibroblasts) based on the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. The results showed that the drug attachment and its performance are influenced by a combination of mercerization, bleaching and polylactide grafting, and the release of ibuprofen depends on the drug-loaded layer structure. Moreover, we show that cotton woven fabric with ibuprofen-loaded PLA and PLA-PEG cover layers had anti-inflammatory properties. These new dressings may open possibilities for developing prolonged analgesic and anti-inflammatory materials for wound healing or transdermal drug delivery.

Advancements in Cotton Textile Design: Addressing Temperature and Moisture Challenges

The primary objective of this study is to alleviate discomfort arising from fluctuations in heat and humidity due to environmental and personal factors, aiming to develop functional textiles capable of effectively responding to these changes. To achieve this, systematic pattern designs were implemented on 100% cotton woven fabrics, incorporating hydrophobic characteristics through the application of a water-repellent agent to specific areas. The resulting compatibility of these hydrophobic features with hydrophilic elements endowed the fabrics with moisture management properties. Furthermore, the introduction of a phase-changing material agent to these fabrics imparted heat management capabilities. The rotation printing technique was employed to seamlessly transfer these agents onto the fabric. In assessing the durability of woven fabrics featuring distinct functionalities, a comprehensive examination was conducted, subjecting them to 30 repeated wash cycles within a single process step. The morphological structures of the fabrics produced were meticulously analyzed using SEM (scanning electron microscopy), SEM–EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray analysis) while their chemical compositions were scrutinized through FTIR–ATR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflectance). Additionally, a battery of tests, including physical, chemical, liquid absorption, liquid transfer assessments, and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) analyses, were conducted in accordance with relevant standards. The outcomes of this study demonstrated that the fabrics not only met the criteria of the TS 866 standard, particularly with regard to a rapid response time of less than 10 s, but also exhibited resilience to repeated washings, affirming the enduring efficacy of the incorporated functionalities. According to tearing strength results, slight increase was also observed in treated cotton fabrics.

Resource utilization in the sub-sectors of the textile industry: opportunities for sustainability

It was aimed to determine the specific resource use and reduction potential profiles in various textile sub-sectors (cotton woven fabric dyeing-finishing, wool woven fabric dyeing-finishing, synthetic woven fabric dyeing-finishing, cotton knitted fabric, synthetic knit fabric dyeing-finishing, non-woven fabric, dyeing-finishing of knitted fabric). The main focus was to elucidate opportunities for sustainability in terms of decreasing resource utilization in the textile sector. On-site surveys and detailed data collection studies were carried out at 150 textile facilities. Average specific values for water, auxiliary chemicals, dyestuff, electricity, and steam consumptions, and related reduction potentials were calculated and compared within facilities and sub-sectors. The minimum specific resource consumption values reported in the Best Available Techniques Reference Document (BREF) for the textile industry and data of similar facilities from the literature were evaluated and used. A detailed environmental performance profile of the Turkish textile sector in terms of resource usage and reduction potential was generated. The highest specific water consumption was found in the wool-woven fabric sub-sector (345 ± 262 L/kg product). Although the specific auxiliary chemical consumption shows similarities within sub-sectors, the highest specific auxiliary chemical consumption (397 ± 237 g/kg product) was found in the synthetic woven fabric sub-sector. The sub-sector with the highest specific dyestuff consumption (30 ± 13 g/kg product) was the cotton knitted fabric sub-sector. The wool woven fabric industry had the highest specific electricity (7 ± 5.3 kWh/kg product) and steam (20 ± 11 kg steam/kg product) consumption. In addition, for all the studied sub-sectors country-wide, the lowest and highest reduction potentials in resource uses were 18 ± 15% and 73 ± 13%, respectively, suggesting a need for major full-scale implementations of cleaner production for enhancing sustainability in the textile industry.

Remediation of Cr(VI) using a radiation functionalized green adsorbent: Adsorption modelling, mechanistic insights and prototype water purifier demonstration

The work reports remediation of hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) in water using a radiation functionalized cellulose based green adsorbent, fabricated via gamma radiation assisted Mutual Irradiation Grafting Process (MIGP), wherein poly(2-Trimethylammoniumethyl methacrylate chloride) (PTMAEMC) was grafted onto Woven Cotton Cellulose Fabric (WCCF). The grafted adsorbent “ChromClear” efficiently sequestered Cr(VI) from water and demonstrated a maximum adsorbent capacity of ∼55 mg.g−1, successfully curtailing Cr(VI) concentrations to <20 μg.L−1. Characterization of samples was performed using 13C NMR, XPS, SEM-EDS, FTIR, TGA, and BET analysis. The equilibrium adsorption, kinetic, and breakthrough curve data were analysed using various theoretical models to infer the adsorption mechanism and extract important process parameters. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modelling was used to predict adsorption capacity and % Cr(VI) removal in continuous flow column mode under different operational conditions, with a high degree of agreement (R2 > 0.99) between experimental and modelled data. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations established the interaction between CrO42− and PTMAEMC groups of ChromClear to be occurring in a 1:2 ratio. ChromClear could be regenerated for over five recycled iterations with >88 % retention in adsorption capacity. Concept based prototype water purification systems were also developed for pump as well as gravity driven continuous flow operations, and successfully demonstrated for remediation of Cr(VI) contaminated ground water samples. The efficacy and simplicity of the process provides ample scope for further upscaling and deployment for community level water treatment applications, with a special emphasis on compliance with drinking water norms in affected areas.

Assessment of Impact of the Surface Modification Techniques on Structural, Biophysical, and Electrically Conductive Properties of Different Fabrics.

This article presents studies on the evaluation of the impact of surface modification of cotton, viscose, and polyester fabrics using three techniques (flocking, layer by layer, and screen printing) with materials with electrically conductive properties on their structural, biophysical, and conductive properties. Each tested fabric is characterized by specific biophysical properties. which can be disturbed by various modification methods, therefore, the following tests were carried out in the article: optical microscopy, micro-computed tomography, guarded perspiration heating plate, air permeability, sorption and electrical conductivity tester. The use of screen printing increased the thermal resistance of the cotton woven fabric by 119%, the polyester woven fabric by 156%, and the viscose fabric by 261%. The smallest changes in thermal resistance compared to unmodified textiles were observed in layer by layer modified fabrics and are as follows: -15% (cotton woven fabric), +77% (PES woven fabric), and +80% (viscose woven fabric).

Flexible Cotton Fabric-Based Ionizing Radiation Dosimeter for 2D Dose Distribution Measurements over a Wide Dose Range at High Dose Rates.

This work presents an ecological, flexible 2D radiochromic dosimeter for measuring ionizing radiation in the kilogray dose range. Cotton woven fabric made of cellulose was volume-modified with nitrotetrazolium blue chloride as a radiation-sensitive compound. Its features include a color change during exposure from yellowish to purple-brown and flexibility that allows it to adapt to various shapes. It was found that (i) the dose response is up to ~80 kGy, (ii) it is independent of the dose rate for 1.1-73.1 kGy/min, (iii) it can be measured in 2D using a flatbed scanner, (iv) the acquired images can be filtered using a mean filter, which improves its dose resolution, (v) the dose resolution is -0.07 to -0.4 kGy for ~0.6 to ~75.7 kGy for filtered images, and (vi) two linear dose subranges can be distinguished: ~0.6 to ~7.6 kGy and ~9.9 to ~62.0 kGy. The dosimeter combined with flatbed scanner reading and data processing using dedicated software packages constitutes a comprehensive system for measuring dose distributions for objects with complex shapes.

Preparation and properties of stainless steel filament/pure cotton woven fabric

Abstract The flame-retardant cotton fabric used for welding protective clothing in the market exhibits insufficient melt hole resistance. We evaluated the stainless steel filament fabric for flame retardancy and melt hole resistance and found that it lacked sufficient comfort. A stainless steel filament and a cotton yarn were plied and twisted together and then woven following a set of specifications. The fabric was finished with a flame retardant, and its performance and flame retardancy were determined. The results indicate that the twist direction during ply twisting affects the fabric performance. Relative to the pure cotton fabric, the stainless steel filament/cotton composite fabric exhibits reduced comfort properties, such as moisture permeability and air permeability, but the mechanical properties and flame retardancy are improved. Ply twisting a stainless steel filament and a pure cotton yarn with an S twist presents certain advantages in enhancing the comprehensive performance of the fabric and exhibits potential for advancements in welding protective clothing.

Fluorine-free nanoparticle coatings on cotton fabric: comparing the UV-protective and hydrophobic capabilities of silica vs. silica-ZnO nanostructures.

Robust, hydrophobic woven cotton fabrics were obtained through the sol-gel dip coating of two different nanoparticle (NP) architectures; silica and silica-ZnO. Water repellency values as high as 148° and relatively low tilt angles for fibrous fabrics (12°) were observed, without the need for fluorinated components. In all cases, this enhanced functionality was achieved with the broad retention of water vapor permeability characteristics, i.e., less than 10% decrease. NP formation routes indicated direct bonding interactions in both the silica and silica-ZnO structures. The physico-chemical effects of NP-compatibilizer (i.e., polydimethoxysilane (PDMS) and n-octyltriethoxysilane (OTES) at different ratios) coatings on cotton fibres indicate that compatibilizer-NP interactions are predominantly physical. Whenever photoactive ZnO-containing additives were used, there was a minor decrease in hydrophobic character, but order of magnitude increases in UV-protective capability (i.e., UPF > 384); properties which were absent in non-ZnO-containing samples. Such water repellency and UPF capabilities were stable to both laundering and UV-exposure, resisting the commonly encountered UV-induced wettability transitions associated with photoactive ZnO. These results suggest that ZnO-containing silica NP coatings on cotton can confer both excellent and persistent surface hydrophobicity as well as UV-protective capability, with potential uses in wearables and functional textiles applications.