A Review on the Investigation of Biologically Active Natural Compounds on Cotton Fabrics as an Antibacterial Textile Finishing

The scientific studies have considered the propolis, beewax and Chitosan as antibacterial agents for 100% cotton fabrics in recent years as an emulsion to functionalize cotton textile materials. But yet no more research had done on these natural compounds. Chitosan has a long historical background of being used as an antibacterial agent in different fields. The concentration, Molecular Weight, and Degree of Deacylation of chitosan and the bacterial strain are the main factors that affect the antibacterial behavior of chitosan. The used of chitosan as an antibacterial finish along with a durable press finishing agent on 100% cotton fabrics was found that antibacterial activity remained to a level of 80% after 10 repeated launders. The presence of the biologically active natural compounds on the cotton substrates modified the surface of the textile fibers. The treatment also improved fabric comfort properties, the cotton substrates became less air permissive and more hygroscopic after the treatment. The research found that the treated cotton fabric showed higher reduction (97%) in the number of colonies of S. aureus bacteria compared to the number of colonies on a 55/45% wood pulp/polyester spun-laced nonwoven fabric.The antibacterial performance of the functionalized cotton fabrics treated with those biologically active natural compounds has the potentials to be used in medical fields[1]. Furthermore, the used of microcapsules of honey as core and chitosan as a shield on the medical gauzes showed good performance in the wound healing. These treated medical gauzes have the healing and antimicrobial behaviors of honey and chitozan and that study had proved the usage of honey and Chitosan as an antibacterial in treating medical gauzes for the human diabetes [2]. Up to date none of the natural compounds have been reported to have negative side effects on the human skin when used as antibacterial clothing.

Synthesis and application of an alkaline crosslinking agent containing acrylamide as the durable press finishing agent on cotton fabric

In this study, acrylamide-containing crosslinking agents 2,4-diacrylamidebenzenesulfonic acid (AC-DABS1) and 2,5-diacrylamidebenzenesulfonic acid (AC-DABS2) were synthesized and applied to cotton fabric as durable press finishing agents under alkaline conditions. The target products were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The stability of the acrylamide group in alkaline solution was investigated by model compound para-acrylamidebenzenesulfonic acid. The efficiency of AC-DABS1 and AC-DABS2 as durable press finishing agents was examined and compared by testing the wrinkle recovery angle (WRA), tearing strength retention (TSR) and washing durability under different conditions using the steaming process. The performance of fabric treated with 1,3,5-triacroylaminohexahydro-s-triazine (FAP) was also investigated and compared with those treated with acrylamide-containing crosslinking agents. The results showed that the anti-crease effects of FAP were better than those of the new synthesized agents. However, the new synthesized agents have the advantage of water solubility and low cost. The fabric treated with new synthesized agents presented satisfactory WRA and TSR, indicating that AC-DABS1 and AC-DABS2 can be utilized as effective alkaline crosslinking agents. In addition, the different performance of the FAP-treated fabric and fabric treated with the new synthesized agents was illustrated by the HPLC method.

Durable Press Finishing of Cotton Fabrics Dyed with Henna (Lawsonia inermis Linn.) Leaves Extract

Cotton fabrics were treated with 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) and then dyed with a natural dye extracted from henna (Lawsonia inermisLinn.) leaves. The effect of BTCA concentration on the dyeing properties of cotton fabrics was studied by measuring the K/S values of the treated dyed cotton fabrics. The wrinkle recovery angles of the treated dyed cotton fabrics were assessed. The results proved that the BTCA treated cotton fabrics showed increase dye uptake of cotton fabrics. Concentration of BTCA enhances the durable press and tensile strength of the dyed cotton fabrics. Fastness properties of these to wash, rub and light have also been discussed.

Non-Formaldehyde Polyfunctional Crosslinking System for Cotton

Crosslinking of cotton with polycarboxylic acid, applied with catalysts based on phosphorus-containing inorganic acids, produces fabrics with excellent smooth-drying properties, which release no formaldehyde at any stage of preparation or on storage. If polycarboxylic acid has three or more carboxylic acid groups, the formation of such an anhydride can occur more than once and crosslinking of the cellulose molecule occurs. In our research work the use of an unsaturated bifunctional acid (maleic acid) and a phosphorus-containing inorganic compound (sodium hydroxyphosphinite) to obtain durable press finishing properties and flame retardant properties was studied.

SEM Characterisation of the Cellulose Material Treated with Polycarboxylic Acid and Zeolite Nanoparticles

Coating of zeolite nanoparticles, previously dispersed in Polycarboxylic acid (PCA) solution, on cellulose textile surface has several advanced technological applications. One of the possible usages is for the Durable Press finishing enabling simultaneous enhanced antimicrobial or flame retardant properties. In this study, one of the polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agents, Citric acid (CA) is used to coat cotton fabric in the presence of synthesized zeolite applied as a catalyst. Cotton fabric samples were padded with a suspension containing zeolite powder in aqueous solution of CA crosslinking agent. Drying and curing of coated samples was performed at different curing conditions, either in a microwave oven or in conventional dryer. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to characterize the surface morphology and confirm bonding of zeolite particles to cellulose fibers. Further characterization of coated surface is performed by attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy while the effects of microwave irradiation on zeolite nanoparticles bonding is estimated by thermogravimetric analysis.