Multi-finishing of Polyester and Polyester Cotton Blend Fabrics Activated byEnzymatic Treatment and Loaded with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

摘要

The present work discusses the possibility of applying enzymatic treatments for fabric surface activation that can facilitate the loading of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) onto polyester (PET) and polyester cotton blend (PET/C) fabrics prepared by sol-gel method, Activated polyester fabrics loaded by ZnO NPs were investigated by the use of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Electron Dispersion Emission X-Ray (EDX) and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR).The functionality of activated polyester fabrics loaded by ZnO NPs was evaluated by analyzing its antimicrobial activity and UV protection efficiency. Antimicrobial activity of activated polyester fabrics and loaded by ZnO NPs was tested against Gram-positive (Bacillus mycoides), Gram-negative (Escherichia coli), and nonfilamentous fungus (Candida albicans). The level of UV protection was verified by the UV Protection factor (UPF) of polyester fabrics. Activated post treated polyester fabrics exhibited outstanding antimicrobial and UV protection efficiency. The achieved antimicrobial function and UV protection on the polyester fabrics are durable with repeated laundering processes even after five washing cycles.