Abstract
MULTIFUNCTIONAL textiles, a topic which is important from scientific and economic point of view will be the new direction for development of fabrics and clothing. Finishing of textiles with nanoparticles is a novel rout for creation of unique functions. It is well known that ZnO and TiO2 possess UV-protection, antibacterial and photocatalytic properties, but there is no enough information concerning the similar behavior of ZnTiO3. This provokes the interest to synthesize that compound and to examine its UV-protection and antibacterial properties in addition to its photocatalytic activity. In this study the synthesis and use of hybrid polymers loaded with ZnTiO3 nanoparticles were presented. Hybrid polymerused here are based on 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). ZnTiO3 nanoparticles was used to impart cotton based fabric UV-protection, antibacterial and self-cleaning properties. The viability of the novel finishing as UV-protection will be dictatedby UV-Vis spectroscopy and byassessment of the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). The antibacterial activity of these sol-gel derived hybrid materials will be researched against Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli DSMZ 498 and Gram-positive Micrococcus lutues ATCC 9341. Photocatalytic degradation (decolorization) of methylene blue (MB) in both ZnTiO3 nanoparticles sol-gel solution /or on the coated fabrics was evaluated. The impact of this finishing technique on other fabric properties, e.g. air permeability, whiteness, and stiffness will be investigated.