Mikrokapsüller, küçük katı partiküllerinin, sıvı damlacıklarının veya sıvı içinde disperge haldeki katıların üzerine mikron mertebesinde ince bir polimer tabakasının kaplanması vasıtasıyla gerçekleştirilen, mikron düzeyindeki bir paketleme tekniği ile üretilirler. Mikrokapsül ihtiva eden kumaşlar, akıllı kumaşlar olarak adlandırılırlar ve kozmetik, terapi, enerji verici, stres azaltıcı, nemlendirici ve konfor özelliği ayrı ayrı veya bazılarını aynı anda beraberce içerebilmektedirler. Mikrokapsüllerin içindeki aktif maddelerin kullanım sırasında çeşitli şekillerde ve zaman içinde yavaş yavaş salınması ile mikrokapsül uygulanmış kumaşlarda amaçlanan aktif maddelerden uzun süre faydalanabilmek mümkün olmaktadır. Mikrokapsüller kumaştaki liflere kullanılan çok özel binderler vasıtasıyla mükemmel bir şekilde bağlanabilmektedir. Bu çalışmada, içinde Myritol 318 (kokonat yağı) ve vitamin E ihtiva eden mikrokapsüller hazırlanmıştır. Fularda emdirme yoluyla, kokonat yağı ve vitamin E içerikli mikrokapsüller %90 poliamid, %10 elastan içeren örme kumaşa tatbik edilmiştir. Üç farklı çapta elde edilen mikrokapsüller, üç farklı reçete ile kumaşa uygulanmıştır. Daha sonra, mikrokapsül tatbik edilmiş kumaş, içerisinde Chitosan laktik asit çözeltisi bulunan fular banyosundan geçirilmiştir. Chitosan çözeltisinden geçirilmiş ve geçirilmemiş mikrokapsül içerikli kumaşlar, elektron mikroskobunda (SEM) ve gazkromotografi altında incelenerek; mikrokapsüllerin yıkama dayanım performansları ve chitosan ile kaplama yapılmış kumaş üzerinde chitosanın yıkama dayanımına olan pozitif etkisi yapılan analizlerin sonuçlarında kendisini göstermiştir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Mikrokapsül, mikrokapsül büyüklüğü, chitosan kaplama, yıkama dayanımı, elektron mikroskobu, gazkromatografik analiz.Micro-encapsulation is a micro-packaging technique which traditionally involved the deposition of thin polymer coatings on small particles of solids, droplets of liquids or dispersions of solids in liquids. Microencapsulated fabrics are among the latest generation of fabrics known as intelligent fabrics, taking into account the functions they perform i.e. cosmetic, with a gradual release of active or volatile micro-capsules for cosmetic, therapeutic, energy-boosting, stress-busting, moisturizing or deodorizing, and, climatic fabrics with phase change microcapsules which are heat-regulating. A direct fragrance application on garment may not show durability to repeated laundering. But one can think of encapsulating those fragrance inside a capsule, which, when touched breaks and releases the active material inside. These microcapsules can be bonded very well with fibers via using some special type of binders. The total process of microencapsulation actually covers three separate processes on a time scale. The first process consists of forming a wall around the core material. The second process involves keeping the core inside the wall material so that it does not release. Also, the wall material must prevent the entrance of undesirable materials that may harm the core. And finally, it is necessary to get the core material out beginning at the right time and at the right rate. Since the beginning of the 90's, trade applications of micro-encapsulation in the textile field have appeared. Textile manufacturers show more and more interest in the textile with durable odour or a cosmetic product which is released by the contact with the skin. Therefore, the numbers of the researches in cosmetic effects of clothing textiles have started to get increased. The main reasons why clothing textiles need cosmetic effects are: Body care (not only face and hand care) is one of the major trends in cosmetics. Textiles cover a large part of the body for most of the day, which means a unique opportunity for the convenient transfer of cosmetics to large parts of the body. Continuous release of small doses of cosmetics may be more effective than single applications of large amounts of well-known drugs. Consumers are increasingly interested in and open to textiles with added effects: functional garments are massive trend in textile. On the other side, cosmetic effects of the clothing textile have been facing with some technical challenges in recent years. The main challenges to attach cosmetic ingredients onto textiles are in such a way that They are not destroyed in the finishing process. They remain stable during storage. They are not washed out during further launderings. They are transferred to the skin while the textiles are being worn and can therefore produce real controllable effects. The main technical challenges are the washing permanency and the controlled release properties. In this study, Myritol 318 (coconut oil) and vitamin E mixtured microcapsules were prepared. By using foulard process, coconut oil/ Vitamin E mixtured microcapsules were applied on 30/1 single jersey fabric (90% Polyamide, 10% Lycra), which is 240 g/sqm. Three different recipes were prepared by using three different microcapsule sizes. Furthermore, microcapsule treated fabric passed through the foulard, which had Chitosan lactic acid solution inside. After that, both Chitosan coated and no Chitosan coated fabric were analyzed under SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and under gas-chromatogram to see its laundering durability performance and the positive effect of Chitosan coating on laundering durability were proved after all these analyses. In this study, it was found out that, as studied with many researchers before, Chitosan played an active role to improve laundering durability by creating a kind of second membrane around microcapsules that are located inside of the fabric. By this way, the membrane shell of the capsules were strengthen with this second layer and the release of the myritol 318 coconut oil were slowed down. Therefore, the microcapsule life could have been extended within the fabric during further home laundering cycles. Creating a kind of second layer around the microcapsule wall decreased the risk of the capsule breakage. Capsules which have thinner membrane are normally much more brittle. Keywords: Microcapsule, microcapsule size, Chitosan coating, laundering durability, scanning electron microscopy and gas-chromatographic analysis
