Influence of sericin/TiO₂ nanocomposite on cotton fabric: part 1. Enhanced antibacterial effect.

Sericin as a biological material was extracted from raw silk by boiling in hot water and nano-TiO2 was dispersed in its solution. The prepared finishing agents with and without polycarboxylic acid cross-linking agents were treated on cotton fabric using pad-dry-cure. Presence of sericin, nano-TiO2, and cross-linking agents on cotton fabric was confirmed by at least one of the following experimental FTIR, SEM, EDX, and XRD. The antibacterial activity and the durability of modified cotton fabrics were investigated against one Gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus) and one Gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli). The finishing treatment on the cotton fabric was more effective against S. aureus than E. coli. The fabrics treated with nano-TiO2 were possessed more activity against bacteria as compared to sericin and also considerably improved with given nanocomposite. The antibacterial activity of treated fabrics with cross-linking agents has not been considerably changed after 20 and 40 launderings. The fabrics treated with given nanocomposites did not dramatically affect the breaking strength.

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