Surface Of Cotton Fibers Research Articles

Cotton From Industrial Waste Modified for Effective Absorption of Oil Spills

ABSTRACTA primary emphasis of this investigation is the utilization of discarded cotton fiber. Oil sorbent from cotton was developed by changing the hydrophilic surface of waste cotton fiber to a hydrophobic surface by acetylation treatment. Change in the surface structure of the fiber was confirmed by confirmed through various analytical techniques, including Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, drop shape analyzer (DSA100), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Compared to commercial oil sorbents (polypropylene), diesel and engine oil were shown to have much greater oil sorption capacities (20.07 and 23.89 g/g, respectively). Acetylated cotton fibers are easily disposed of after the fifth cycle and have remarkable oil sorption capacities (23.89 g/g). After the fifth cycle, regenerated sorbent is eco‐friendly and can supply biopower plants. They also support environmental sustainability goals.

A short-time, low-dosage chemicals dyeing of polyester/cotton blended fabric with benzothiazole dyes in water-less, salt-free dyeing system

Non-aqueous media dyeing technology has highly innovative as it reduces pollution without increasing cost in polyester/cotton blended fabric dyeing. However, disperse dyes can stain in cotton component of the polyester/cotton blended fabric during dyeing process, resulting poor quality of dyed products. In this study, a groundbreaking comprehensive investigation was conducted on the dyeing behavior of C.I. Disperse Red 177 and C.I. Disperse Red 145 in non-aqueous media. The results revealed that the dyes' uptake rates on polyester components in non-aqueous medium were comparable to those in traditional water dyeing baths. Conversely, the staining rate of disperse dye on cotton fiber surface was relatively high. Interestingly, the migration of dyes from polyester surface to cotton surface after dyeing had minimal impact on staining. Thermodynamic analysis in non-aqueous media showed that the Gibbs free energy of C.I. Disperse Red 145 adsorption on cotton was higher than that of C.I. Disperse Red 177. Computational chemistry simulations showed that the terminal group of C.I. Disperse Red 177 (N-acetoxyethyl) led to stronger electrostatic interaction with cotton compared to C.I. Disperse Red 145. Therefore, disperse dyes with N-ethyl end groups have a weak interaction with the cotton and stain less on the cotton fiber surface.

The nanocellulose fiber scaffold to construct a hierarchical phenolic coating on cotton fiber surfaces for inactivating pathogens through an enhanced protein adsorption mechanism

Emerging pathogens present a significant societal threat, and biological protection textiles are expected to play a pivotal role in controlling their spread. However, incorporating highly effective pathogen transmission-blocking abilities into textiles while ensuring their large-scale production remains challenging. This work has successfully developed a hierarchically structured coating for cotton fibers, which exhibits enhanced antiviral and antibacterial functionalities compared to existing phenolic coating methods. The multilevel coating consisted of a cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) scaffold on cotton fibers, along with a phenolic layer constructed of 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)valeric acid (DPA) on the CNF surfaces. The bioactive textile exhibited remarkable antiviral and antibacterial capabilities with exceptional durability, while demonstrating strong protein affinity for pathogen destruction. Especially, the CNFs with diameters below 10 nm show significant size effect in capturing phi6. This is primarily due to their complementary shape matching the spike proteins, resulting in an increased number of binding sites and improved inactivation effectiveness. Moreover, the modification process was demonstrated to be scalable in a pad-dry-cure line commonly employed by textile finishing factories, and the resultant coating ensured reliable safety for human skin without sacrificing wearing comfort. This approach opens up new possibilities for developing protective textiles that effectively block pathogen transmission.

Flexible and hydrophobic CoFe-LDH @Co MOF @biomass-derived carbon fabrics for effective near-infrared photothermal conversion and electromagnetic attenuation

Near-infrared (NIR) laser countermeasures firing systems and electromagnetic wave shielding are extremely important in military warfare. Herein, a series of biomass-derived carbon flexible textiles with NIR photothermal conversion and microwave absorption capabilities were created by pyrolysis at temperatures ranging from 700 to 1000 °C. A hydrothermal approach was employed to create 2D CoFe-layered double hydroxides (CoFe-LDH), whose positively charged characteristics were securely attached to the hydroxide clusters on the surface of cotton fibers via electrostatic interaction. Subsequently, the adjustable layer spacing of LDH provides ideal in situ growth sites for metal ions and organic ligands of Co MOF. CoFe-LDH@Co MOF@PDMS cotton-derived carbon textiles (CoFe@PCCF) were successfully made using high-temperature pyrolysis, annealed carbonization, and polydimethylsiloxane curing. The intrinsic light absorption of the interwoven and entangled carbon fibers, combined with the plasmonic resonance of its surface metal particles, promotes photothermal conversion of the material, reduces density, and increases absorption during multiple reflections of electromagnetic waves. Furthermore, its qualities can be optimized and modified by modifying parameters like as carbonization temperature and thickness. As a result, CoFe@PCCF-900 shows the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −23.03 dB at 1.6 mm thickness and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 4.53 GHz. The surface temperature of CoFe@PCCF-1000 reaches 74.5 ℃ after 3 seconds of NIR (980 nm, 200 mW) light, indicating quick and stable photothermal conversion. This work provides an opportunity for laser shooting and electromagnetic attenuation low-cost materials.

A Janus textile mimics leaf stoma for dynamic thermal regulation through a shape memory coating

The development of smart textiles with thermal/moisture regulation is crucial for outdoor activities and healthcare applications. However, incorporating dynamic adaptive thermal management into conventional fabrics to provide consistent comfort remains a significant challenge. Inspired by the ingenious stomata of plant leaves, a novel Janus-type cotton fabric is fabricated by covalently linking shape memory polymer (SMP) on the surfaces of cotton fibers via the combination of the “grafting from” strategy and the “mist polymerization” methodology. This unique coating induces yarns to dynamically twist in response to temperature, switching the pore apertures in the fabric and allowing for adaptive adjustment of both heat dissipation capability and moisture permeability. The resulting fabrics provide effective thermal insulation at low temperatures, while demonstrating an enhanced cooling effect at high temperatures. Meanwhile, the asymmetrical distribution of SMP across the fabric enables unidirectional water transport, improving sweat removal and cooling. Additionally, the excellent biocompatibility and fabric flexibility allow for comfortable garment fabrication. This work provides novel insights into the field of self-adaptive thermal regulation, demonstrating promising potential for smart textile applications.

Color design for cotton fabric by rapid in-situ synthesis of metal oxides on the fiber surface using organic solvent-assisted method

The coloration of cotton fabric with wild application has attracted extensive attention to cotton fiber, due to the efficient utilization of renewable industrial crops. However, the utilization of rapid in-situ synthesis of metal oxides with color is inadequate. Herein, a rapid strategy for constructing multi-color cotton fabric is designed to propose a rapid in-situ synthesis of metal oxides on the surface of cotton fiber in a high-temperature organic solvent system within 40 s. The colored metal oxide of cuprous oxide (Cu2O), tungsten trioxide (WO3), and cobalt molybdate (CoMoO4) are in-situ synthesis on the surface of cotton fibers by different precursor solutions. The bright-colored cotton fabrics are developed within 40 s as well as satisfactory K/S values of 7.53, 2.67, and 0.98, for Cu2O (Cu2O-Cotton), WO3 (WO3-Cotton), and CoMoO4 (CoMoO4-Cotton), respectively. The stable structure of the various colored cotton fabrics is demonstrated by level 3 of rubbing fastness and washing fastness, and acceptable air permeability. Moreover, assigned to the nature of particles, the colored cotton fabrics are fabricated with thermal stability and better ultraviolet protection factors. The rapid in-situ metal oxides with precursor solutions provide a time- and water-saving method to prepare colored cotton fabrics, which exhibits an ideal efficiency, and practical potential application for coloring and functionalization.

Preparation and performance study of environmentally friendly and durable kaolin/PDMS/cotton fabrics superhydrophobic surface

In this research work, a fluorine-free, durable, and excellent self-cleaning and oil-water separation performance kaolin/polydimethylsiloxane/cotton fabrics (Kaolin/PDMS/cotton) superhydrophobic surface was successfully prepared. The morphology, wettability, and phase composition of the coating were characterized and tested using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic contact angle measuring instrument, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The experimental results showed that the organic composite of hydrophobic modified kaolin particles and cotton fabrics was successfully achieved through the bridging effect of PDMS. A dense superhydrophobic micro-nano structure coating was constructed on the surface of cotton fibers, and the tested performance was excellent. Has good local anti-pollution performance for common coffee, Coca-Cola, dyeing water, and simulated dust; After being worn for a distance of 1200 centimeters under a load of 10KPa, the contact angle with water remained above 150°, indicating excellent durability of the coating; In addition, kaolin/PDMS/cotton also exhibited good oil/water separation performance. After 15 cycles of oil-water separation tests, the separation efficiency for gasoline and dichloromethane both exceeded 96%.

A Novel L-Cys@Cu MOF Embedding onto Cotton Fiber Surfaces to Exert Excellent Antiviral and Antibacterial Effects

A Novel L-Cys@Cu MOF Embedding onto Cotton Fiber Surfaces to Exert Excellent Antiviral and Antibacterial Effects

Level dyeing property and aggregation morphology of reactive black 5 on cotton fabric in a salt-free and less-water dyeing system

In a traditional water-based dyeing system, large amounts of salts and water are consumed. However, a non-aqueous media dyeing system achieves salt-free and less-water dyeing. In a non-aqueous media dyeing system, a small amount of water is used, which may affect the aggregation morphology of the dyes. The molecular dynamics of reactive dyes on the surface of cotton fibers were investigated. The results showed that the color depth of dyed cotton fabric did not change much when the dosage of salt was below 5.2% o.w.f. However, continuing to increase the amount of salt could influence the dyeing level of dyed fabric. The diffusion coefficient of dye was 0.3044 × 10−5 cm−2/s when there was no salt in dyeing system. But it was decreased by 14.03% and 16.62% when the salt concentration was increased from zero to 5.2% and 13% o.w.f., respectively. When the concentration of sodium sulfate was zero, the dye molecules in the solution displayed in the form of unimolecular molecules and dimers. However, reactive dyes mainly existed in the form of trimers and polymers when the concentration of sodium sulfate was above 5.2%. When there was no salt in the less-water dyeing system, the van der Waal energy between fiber and dye was 131.29 kJ/mol, but it was increased to 382.92 kJ/mol when the dosage of sodium sulfate was 5.2%. Therefore, with the increase of sodium sulfate dosage, the color depth of the dyed fabric changed little, but the level of dyeing property became poorer.

Chitosan-modified cotton fiber: An efficient and reusable adsorbent in removal of harmful cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa from aqueous phases

In the present study, to remove harmful cyanobacterial species Microcystis aeruginosa from aqueous phases, adsorption-based strategy was utilized. For this strategy, the surface of cotton fiber was modified using chitosan molecules to develop a highly efficient and ecofriendly adsorbent in removal of Microcystis aeruginosa from aqueous solution. The pristine cotton fiber could not remove M. aeruginosa, while the chitosan-modified cotton (CS-m-Cotton) showed the 95% of cell removal efficiency within 12 h. The surface characteristics of chitosan-modified cotton compared to the pristine cotton fiber was examined by various surface analysis methods. In addition, the pre-treatment of pristine cotton using sodium hydroxide solution was an important factor for enhancement of chitosan modification efficiency on the cotton fiber. The developed chitosan-modified cotton fiber could be reusable for M. aeruginosa cell removal after the simple desorption treatment using ultrasonication in alkaline solution. During the repeated adsorbent regeneration and reuse, the chitosan-modified cotton maintained its M. aeruginosa removal efficiencies (>90%). From the acute toxicity assessment using the chitosan-modified cotton and, the measurements of chemical oxygen demand and microcystin level changes in the M. aeruginosa treatment process using the adsorbent, the environmental safety of the adsorption strategy using the developed adsorbent could be confirmed. Based on our results, the chitosan-modified cotton fiber could be proposed as an efficient and ecofriendly solution for remediation of harmful cyanobacterial species occurring water resources.

Durable antibacterial cotton fiber surface fabricated by the thiol-ene click reaction between eugenol and L-cysteine

Cotton fabric plays an important role in the textile industry, but suffers from bacterial proliferation. The incorporation of naturally occurred phenols onto cotton fiber surfaces has the potential to yield powerful antibacterial effects, yet a simple and feasible method for their covalent grafting is currently lacking. In this study, we present a cleaning technique for preparing antibacterial cotton fabrics by using eugenol (Eug) and L-Cysteine (Cys) as finishing agents. The reactive carboxyl group of Cys is utilized to link Cys molecules onto cotton fibers via an esterification, followed by linking Eug molecules to the Cys moieties through thiol-ene click reaction. Simulated reactions validate the chemical mechanism of the thiol-ene click reaction between Eug and Cys, confirming its feasibility for various applications. Experimental results demonstrate that the modified fabrics achieve high bacteriostatic reduction rates (BR) against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. It is inferred that the Eug moieties incorporated onto the cotton fibers furnish phenolic groups, which interact with saccharides and proteins to exert bactericidal effects. The resulting fabrics also display exceptional antibacterial durability, maintaining over 95 % antibacterial activity after enduring durability tests. Meanwhile, the original properties of the fabrics (strength, flexibility, etc.) are minimally affected by the modification process.

Waste cotton fabric-derived multimodal heating textile for comfortable and reliable personal thermal management

Wearable textiles with multiple desirable thermal functions still face significant challenges due to the sophisticated manufacturing techniques and limited sources. This work aimed to innovatively propose a convenient means to up-recycle waste cotton fabrics into an all-in-one heating textile integrating electric heating, outdoor solar heating, and indoor radiative heating for efficacious personal thermal management. The multimodal heating textile is realized by the in-situ growth of vertically-aligned polyaniline nanofibers similar to moth compound eye structure on the surface of cotton fibers and assembling silver nanowires on the backside. Methods for instrument analysis and simulating human skin were employed to evaluate the heating performance of the prepared heating fabric. The heating cotton fabric exhibits superb visible light absorptivity (∼98.5%), allowing the fabric 36.7 °C higher than that of the normal cotton under one solar irradiance. Meanwhile, the high mid-infrared reflectivity (∼61.0%) endows the fabric with exceptional radiative heating performance for human body. The high conductivity ensures the terrific electric heating ability (∼74 °C at 0.7 V) of the fabric. Fortunately, the fabric also possesses excellent electromagnetic interference shielding (∼60 dB), breathability, flexibility, self-cleaning performance, and antibacterial capacity. The findings in this work open a promising direction on how to convert waste fabrics into high value-added products and develop efficacious advanced heating textile, which is benefit for realizing the ideal personal thermal management and mitigating global climate change.

In situ tailoring of Ag-doped-TiO2/TPMP/cotton nanocomposite with UV-protective, self-sterilizing and flame-retardant performance for advanced technical textiles

Herein, we present a novel approach to the development of a multifunctional, UV-protective, photocatalytic, antimicrobial and flame-retardant nanocomposite fabric surface. Using a sol–gel/hydrothermal approach, a phosphorus-based flame-retardant 3-(trihydroxysilyl)propyl methylphosphonate (TPMP) in combination with Ag-doped TiO2 was applied to the surface of cotton fibers for the first time, using an aqueous AgNO3 solution as the dopant. The modified cotton fabrics were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) to confirm the successful application of Ag-TiO2 and TPMP on the cotton fabric by analyzing the surface morphology, chemical composition, chemical bonding and crystal structure. The functional properties of the modified cotton fabric were determined by measuring the UV protection factor (UPF), burning behavior and thermo-oxidative stability, as well as antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results show the formation of a unique nanocomposite matrix of TPMP–polysiloxane on the surface of cotton fibers with well-distributed Ag-TiO2. The formation of TiO2/Ag2O particles on the surface of cellulose fibers was also confirmed. The synergism between all components of the nanocomposite resulted in excellent UV protection in the UVA and UVB region, with a UPF of 50+, self-sterilizing activity against both tested bacteria and enhanced thermo-oxidative stability. Therefore, the novel approach proposed herein is promising for the development of multifunctional, protective surfaces for advanced technical textiles.

Fabrication and Enhanced Supercapacitive Performance of Fe2N@Cotton-based Porous Carbon fibers as Electrode Material

With the emergence of supercapacitors (SCs), the creation of bio-based electrode materials has grown in significance for the advancement of energy storage. However, it is particularly difficult for cathode materials to meet the demands of practical uses due to their low energy density. Herein, MIL-88 was fabricated in situ on the surface of cotton fibers used in cosmetics, followed by creating Fe2N@porous carbon fiber composite (Fe2N@PCF) through heat treatment at various temperatures. Fe2N@PCF-800 demonstrates excellent specific capacitance performance (552 F g−1 at 1 A g−1). Meanwhile, The AC//Fe2N@PCF-800 device exhibits the largest energy density of 38 Wh kg−1 at 800 W kg−1 and a long cycling stability (83.3% capacity retention after 6000 cycles). Our elaborately designed Fe2N@PCF demonstrate multiple advantages: i) the Fe2N@PCF-800 shows abundant mesopores, providing abundant ion-diffusion pathways for mass transport and rich graphite microstructures, improving electrical conductivity for electron transferowning; ii) the rich nitrogen dopants and Fe2N structure within all carbon components increase the capacitance through their pseudocapacitive contribution. These findings highlight the importance of biomass derived carbon materials for SCs applications.

A facile and scalable strategy for constructing Janus cotton fabric with persistent antibacterial activity

Natural cotton fibers have attached considerable attention due to their excellent wearing comfort, breathability and warmth. However, it remains a challenge to devise a scalable and facile strategy to retrofit natural cotton fibers. Here, the cotton fiber surface was oxidized by sodium periodate with a mist process, then [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride (DMC) was co-polymerized with hydroxyethyl acrylate (HA) to obtain an antibacterial cationic polymer (DMC-co-HA). The self-synthesized polymer was covalently grafted onto the aldehyde-functionalized cotton fibers via an acetal reaction between hydroxyl groups of the polymer and aldehyde groups of the oxidized cotton surface. Finally, the resulted Janus functionalized cotton fabric (JanCF) revealed robust and persistent antimicrobial activity. The antibacterial test showed that when the molar ratio of DMC/HA was 50: 1, JanCF possessed the best BR (bacterial reduction) values of 100 % against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the BR values could be maintained over 95 % even after the durability test. In addition, JanCF exhibited excellent antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The cytotoxicity assessment confirmed that JanCF exhibited a reliable safety effect on human skin. Particularly, the intrinsic outstanding characteristics (strength, flexibility, etc.) of the cotton fabric were not considerably deteriorated compared to the control samples.

High antibacterial durability of silver nanoparticles anchored on cotton fiber surfaces by 4‐vinylpyridine polymers synthesized via a “grafting through” strategy

AbstractThis study aims at developing novel methodology to prepare antibacterial cotton fabric with excellent antibacterial durability, and a “grafting through” approach was adopted to enhance affinity of Ag NPs with cotton fiber surfaces. The surface modification was carried out by covalently linking acrylic acid (AA) molecules onto the fibers, then 4‐vinylpyridine was copolymerized with the AA moieties as a polymeric binder. Once the coordination bonds were formed between silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and the pyridine nitrogen, Ag NPs could be stably immobilized on the cotton fabric. Experimental results showed that the AA‐co‐PVP grafting copolymer had a significant regulatory effect on the dispersion and particle size of Ag particles, and the resulting cotton fabric presented a high antibacterial property with excellent durability. Even after 120 washing cycles, the bacterial reduction rates of the modified fabric against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli retained a level higher than 99%. In addition, other textile attributes, such as vapor transmissibility, water absorbability and flexibility, could be largely retained in the modified fabrics.

Fabrication of superhydrophobic cotton fabric with multiple durability and wearing comfort via an environmentally friendly spraying method

Superhydrophobic durability of cotton fabric faces a great challenge due to the repeated washing and rubbing. The commercial pad-dry process method using polymer binders usually leads to wastewater discharge and the reduced wearing comfort. Herein, the superhydrophobic cotton fabric with strong durability was fabricated by a facile spraying method which did not produce any wastewater and can make efficient use of modifiers. The dopamine and 2-tetraethoxysilane can in-situ react to construct rough surface structure. The hexadecyltrimethoxysilane with long chain alkyl was firmly connected to cotton fiber surfaces to reduce the surface energy. The prepared sample not only obtained excellent superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 157 ± 1.2° and a shedding angle of 7.8 ± 0.3°, but also retained the inherent air permeability and hand feeling of cotton fabrics. Due to the strong covalent bonds between modifiers and cotton fibers, the modified cotton fabric exhibited high multiple mechanical durability and chemical stability in acid/base solution. The superhydrophobic cotton fabric showed a satisfactory self-cleaning performance toward the common stains in daily life. In addition, the modified fabric can serve as a separation filter for oil/water separation with high separation efficiency and reusability. This facile and clean preparation method showed great potential in large-scale production of durable superhydrophobic textile.

Supercritical CO2 Assisted TiO2 Preparation to Improve the UV Resistance Properties of Cotton Fiber.

Cotton fiber is favored by people because of its good moisture absorption, heat preservation, soft feel, comfortable wearing and other excellent performance. In recent years, due to the destruction of the ozone layer, the intensity of ultraviolet radiation at ground level has increased. Cotton fiber will degrade under long time ultraviolet irradiation, which limits the outdoor application of cotton fiber. In this study, titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles were prepared on the surface of cotton fibers with the help of supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) to improve the UV resistance of cotton fibers. The effects of SCCO2 treatment on the morphology, surface composition, thermal stability, photostability and mechanical properties of TiO2 were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and single fiber test. The results showed that TiO2 particles were generated on the fiber surface, which reduced the photo-degradation rate of cotton fiber. This is because TiO2 can absorb UV rays and reduce the absorption of UV rays by the cotton fiber itself. The synthesis process of SCCO2 is simple and environmentally friendly, which provides a promising technology for the synthesis of metal nitrogen dioxide on natural plant fibers.

Rhamnolipid (RL) microbial biosurfactant-based reverse micellar dyeing of cotton fabric with reactive dyes: A salt-free and alkali-free one-bath one-step approach

The viability of reverse micelles, using rhamnolipid (RL) microbial biosurfactant as the building block, for dyeing of cotton fabrics with reactive dyes has been studied. This novel and sustainable dyeing system not only can achieve salt-free, but also alkali-free under optimised dyeing parameters. Experimental results reveal that RL-based reverse micellar dyeing system can be achieved in one-bath one-step dyeing approach, which is environmentally friendly, time and energy saving, with better colour yield, lower reflectance when compared with conventional water-based dyeing system. RL-dyed samples can obtain comparable colour levelness, washing and rubbing fastness to water-dyed samples. No significant chemical damage of cotton fibre surface was observed from scanning electron microscopic (SEM) investigation. The dye-encapsulated reverse micelle was justified as spherical-like morphology from transmission electron microscopic (TEM) observation. The outcome of the study validates the potential and applicability of RL, as a substitute of synthetic surfactant, in non-aqueous reactive dyeing of cotton fabrics.

Bleaching cotton in textile conservation: a closer look using atomic force microscopy

Aqueous bleaching may be used in textile conservation to improve the appearance of historic and culturally significant textiles. It is generally accepted amongst conservators that bleaching imparts damage. The aim of this research is to characterise the condition of cotton fibre's surface pre- and post-bleaching using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Unprocessed cotton calico (‘raw’ cotton), scoured cotton, and a historic cotton dress shirt (circa. 1920) were bleached using three separate methods: NaBH4 for 15 min; H2O2/NaBO3 for 1 h; and H2O2/NaBO3 buffered to pH 8.4 for 1 h. AFM was used in tapping-mode to obtain height, amplitude, and phase images. AFM imaging was able to distinguish between the cuticle, primary walls, and secondary walls of the cotton fibres. The data shows that bleaching has the effect of softening and removing individual layers of the cotton structure. Unprocessed cotton calico and scoured cotton fared better against the impact of bleaching. This was in stark contrast to the historic shirt where the already damaged surface of cotton fibres underwent further degradation using both oxidative and reductive bleaching. In general, reductive bleaching was more aggressive on the fibre surface compared to oxidative bleaching. The use of AFM provides further evidence of the physical effects of bleaching on historic textiles, and cotton textiles more broadly, and it has the potential to influence the conservator’s decision-making.