Sol-Gel Method for Protective Textiles Processing

Abstract

Zinc oxide show high absorption in the ultraviolet (UV) region of the light spectrum, while absorption of visible light is quite low. In comparison with organic absorbers conventionally used in the textile industry, inorganic materials show no significant degradation, are therefore extremely stable and the oxides are classified as non-toxic materials. In this research natural textiles were modified by the nanosol to impart UV radiation and antimicrobial protection property to the fabric surface. Nanosols were prepared by using the sol-gel method.The sol-gel method for nanosol preparation used in this research to implement ZnO coating on the fabric surface is a simple process that can be easily transferred to the textile industry, nanosol can be also applied by conventional coatings techniques used in the textile industry – the application can be implemented by simple dipping or spraying process. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the nature of the surface modification with ZnO coating by nanosol as also after exploitation of samples; energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used for the analysis of elemental composition of coated fabric samples