Search results

TAs the intensity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation increases every year, effective methods to block UV rays to protect human skin, plastics, timber and other polymer materials are urgently sought. Textiles serve as important materials for UV protection in many applications. The utilisation of nanoparticles to textile materials has been the object of several studies aimed at producing finished fabrics with different performances. This article reviews the recent advancements in the field of UV blocking textiles and fibers that are functionalised with nanostructured surface coatings. Different types of UV blocking agents are discussed and various examples of UV blocking textiles that utilise zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) are presented. Future challenges, such as wash-fastness and photocatalysis, are also discussed.

This paper aims to study the combination of photochromic microcapsules, which use the ultraviolet (UV) rays for colour changing phenomena, and titanium oxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs), which block the UV rays by their photocatalytic activity in the sunlight on the cotton fabric.

The TiO₂ NPs mixed with photochromic printing paste are used for coating on cotton fabric and further curing is performed in a one-step process. The photochromic pigment printed fabric impregnated in a liquid solution is processed in a two-step process with two variables such as 1% TiO₂ and 2% TiO₂. The characterization of samples was done with a UV transmittance analyser, surface contact angle, antimicrobial test and fabric physical properties.

The UV protection of TiO₂-treated photochromic printed fabric was high and gives the ultraviolet protection factor rating of 2,000 which denotes almost maximum blocking of UV rays. The antibacterial activity of the one-step samples shows the highest 36 mm zone of inhibition (ZOI) against S. aureus (gram-positive) and 32 mm ZOI against E. coli (gram-negative) bacteria. The one-step sample shows the highest static water contact angle of 118.6° representing more hydrophobicity, whereas the untreated fabric is fully wetted (0.4°). In two-step processes, as the concentration of TiO₂ increased, the antibacterial activity, UV blocking and hydrophobicity became better.

This work achieves the multifunctional finishes by using photochromic microcapsules and NPs in a single process as a first attempt. The results inferred that one-step sample has achieved higher values in most of the tests conducted when compared to all other sample.

Among various metal oxide nano particles, MgO NPs and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) in particular are gaining increasing attention due to their multifunctional characteristics, low cost and compatibility with textile materials. Each type of nanoparticle excels over others in certain properties. As such, it is often crucial to carry out comparative studies of NPs to identify the one showing higher efficiency/output for particular applications of textile products.

In the investigation reported in this paper, ZnO NPs and MgO NPs were synthesised via sol-gel technique and characterised. For comparative analysis, the synthesised NPs were evaluated for multiple properties using standard procedures before and after being applied on cotton fabrics by a dip-pad-dry-cure method.

XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed the successful synthesis of ZnO and MgO NPs. Homogeneous formation of desired NPs and their dense and uniform deposition on the cotton fibre surface were observed using SEM. ZnO NPs and MgO NPs coatings on cotton were observed to significantly enhance self-cleaning/stain removal properties achieving Grade 5 and Grade 4 categories, respectively. In terms of ultraviolet (UV) protection, ZnO or MgO NP coated fabrics showed UPF values of greater than 50, i.e. excellent in blocking UV rays. MgO NPs exhibited 20% cleaning efficiency in treating reactive dye wastewater against ZnO NPs which were 4% efficient in the same treatment, so MgO was more suitable for such type of treatments at low cost. Both NPs were able to impart multifunctionality to cotton fabrics as per requirement of the end products. However, ZnO NPs were better for stain removal from the fabrics while MgO NPs were appropriate for UV blocking.

It was therefore clear that multifunctional textile products could be developed by employing a single type of cost effective and efficient nano particles.

The purpose of this paper is to give compiled information on previously applied cotton fabric surface modifications. The paper covered most of the modifications done on cotton fabric to improve its properties or to add some functional properties. The paper presented mostly studied research works that brought a significant surface improvement on cotton fabric.

Different previous works on surface modifications of cotton fabrics such as pilling, wrinkle and microbial resistance, hydrophobicity, cationization, flame retardancy and UV-protection characteristics were studied and their methods of modification including the main findings are well reported in this paper.

Several modification treatments on surface modification of cotton fabrics indicated an improvement in the desired properties in which the modification is needed. For instance, the pilling tendency, wrinkling, microbial degradation and UV degradation drawbacks of cotton fabric can be overcome through different modification techniques.

To the best of the author’s knowledge, there are no compressive documents that covered all the portions presented in this review. The author tried to cover the surface modifications done to improve the main properties of cotton fabric.

The purpose of this paper is to review the new trends in plastic additives, with special focus on developments in food packaging materials.

Phenomenological research has brought awareness and increased insight into the role of various plastic additives on the packaging of foods. The approach is based on the current trends and the industrial protocols for the additives used in plastic polymer processing for the development of food packaging materials.

Packaging of foodstuffs is a dynamic process which continually responds to the changes in supply and demand which are the result of adaptations to the varying demands of the consumer, changes in retail practices, technological innovations, new materials and developments in legislation, especially, with respect to environmental concerns. A wide range of additives is available for enhancing the performance and appearance of food packaging, as well as improving the processing of the compound. Polymer additives are important areas of innovation for packaging materials.

The paper reviews and summarizes the recent developments in the functionality of different additives, along with their advantages and disadvantages, currently being used to enhance the properties of food packaging materials that can positively influence the environment within the packaging for the increased demand for raw or processed foods.

In recent years, with the development trends towards lighter, shorter and smaller high performance and high reliability electronic products, printed circuit boards have ceaselessly been growing in terms of higher density and layer count. At present, conventional FR‐4 laminate, which is reinforced by glass fabric, has become the universal purpose base material because of its excellent adhesion, good electrical insulation and mechanical properties. However, with its relatively low glass transition temperature (T_g) of approximately 135°C, large coefficient of thermal expansion in the z‐axis direction, poor thermal resistance and propensity for resin smear while drilling, normal FR‐4 is severely limited in high performance applications, especially for multilayer board fabrication, and is used only for multilayer boards with layer counts below ten. Furthermore, conventional FR‐4 is usually cured using dicyandiamide, which could potentially cause insulation deterioration of the printed circuit boards and vulnerability in terms of delamination under high temperature treatment. These effects could degrade the reliability of PCBs and therefore, base material suppliers have focused on improving the T_g and thermal resistance to broaden the operating window of conventional FR‐4.

This review deals with the pros and cons of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on human beings and the role of textile clothing and the chemicals used for textiles to protect from their harmful effects.

UV radiation (UVR) which has further divided into UVA, UVB, and UVC. Almost 100% of UVC and major portion of UVB are bounced back to stratosphere by ozone layer while UVA enters the earth atmosphere. Excessive exposure of solar or artificial UVR exhibit potential risks to human health. UVR is a major carcinogen and excessive exposure of solar radiation in sunlight can cause cancer in the lip, skin squamous cell, basal cell and cutaneous melanoma, particularly in people with the fair skin.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the harmful effects of UVR on human skin, factors affecting UV irradiance and factors affecting UV protection offered by textile clothing.

Effect of fiber properties, yarn properties, fabric construction, fabric treatments and laundering has been reviewed along with the identification of gaps in the reported research. A comparison of inorganic and organic UV absorbers has also been given along with different testing and evaluation methods for UV protective clothing.

The purpose of this paper is to invent a new functional coated fabric based on nanomaterials to shield UV and IR. Multifunctional surface coatings with ultraviolet (UV)/near infrared radiations protection and waterproof were widely applied in outdoor fabrics. Herein, ultrafine TiO2 and nano-antimony doped tin dioxide (ATO) were prepared and embedded into water-based polyurethane (PU) coatings and then coated on the nylon fabric.

ATO was prepared using the sol–gel method and the two powders were dispersed by ball milling. The results of zeta potential and particle size distribution showed that the ultrafine TiO2 and nano-ATO could be stably dispersed in water at pH 8 with the presence of sodium polycarboxylate. The optimal process was screened out by orthogonal design and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV protection, thermal insulation and water-pressure resistance were tested. SEM images indicated the nanoparticles could be uniformly dispersed in the coatings.

The effect of UV prevention can get to UPF > 50, UVA < 5 per cent, which meet up with the AATCC 183-2014. Coatings can effectively lower the temperature of fabric surface by 8∼9ºC through the self-made closed test system and by 3ºC through the open test system.

These PU coatings are environment-friendly and adhesive to impart waterproof, UV-proof and thermal insulation properties to nylon fabrics by coating finishing.

Nylon 6 filaments have weak light and heat resistance in terms of stability, which restrict its application in engineering field. The purpose of this paper is to prepare a new photo-stabilization functional nanocomposite inks by using graphene nanosheet as UV light-resisting functional materials incorporated with polyurethane.

Sunlight-resisting functional nylon filaments were produced by the continuous solution dip coating technology, through which the functional inks was coated on the surface of nylon 6 filament. The surface morphology of the coated filaments was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and the graphene/polyurethane nanocomposite inks as the coating agent was confirmed and well dispersed on the fiber’s surface.

Under UV exposure, the strength loss rate of the graphene-modified nylon filaments was less than 50 percent, while that of the control nylon filament was over 85 percent, which indicated that graphene remarkably enhanced the light-resistant property of nylon. Besides, graphene/polyurethane-coated Nylon 6 filaments exhibited reasonable electrical properties and the electrical conductivity could reach 10–4 S/cm.

Graphene inks was first proposed as the UV photo-stabilization in this paper.

The purpose of this paper is to report on a method of synthesis of TiO₂‐SiO₂ oxide composites characterised by spherically shaped particles with sizes in the micrometric ranges, which can be applied as a new generation of textile/TiO₂‐SiO₂ composites with barrier properties against UV radiation. Synthesis and characterisation of TiO2‐SiO2 oxide composites with a high degree of dispersion were performed, and their influence on the barrier properties of textile fabrics was investigated.

The precipitation was performed with the use of solutions of titanium sulphate and sodium silicate as the precipitating agent, which are cheap alternatives to organic precursors of Ti and Si. The reaction was conducted in an emulsion system, where cyclohexane was used as the organic phase and non‐ionic surfactants NP3 and NP6 as emulsifiers were applied.

The direction of substrate supply, concentration of the reagents and their ratio and other conditions of precipitation process were found to significantly affect the physicochemical parameters of the pigments obtained. A possibility is provided of manufacturing a new generation of textile/TiO2‐SiO2 composites with barrier properties against UV radiation.

Titanium sulphate, sodium silicate, cyclohexane as the organic phase, and non‐ionic surfactants NP3 and NP6 as emulsifiers, were used.

Synthesis of a new generation of textile/TiO2‐SiO2 composites with barrier properties against UV radiation has been performed. Textile fabrics modified with hybrid composites demonstrated high absorption of UV radiation over the full wavelength range.

Determination of optimum conditions of TiO2‐SiO2 oxide composites precipitation to obtain products with desired physicochemical, dispersive and structural properties. Development of nano‐structural textile composites with barrier properties, protecting against UV radiation.