Improving Performance and Functional Properties of Different Cotton Fabrics by Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles

Cotton is the most important natural textile fiber in the world, used to produce apparel and used to produce 40 per cent of the world’s textiles, It is durable and has breathable properties.The aim of this research is to enhance the functionality of cotton fabric by using Nano finishing technology through applying Silicon Dioxide NPs with different concentrations and different application treatment methods to get optimal result on 100% cotton fabrics (Woven fabric, Indian Cotton, and Egyptian Cotton Giza 86), Samples of high concentration SiO2 were selected to be dyed as they were giving best results for treated samples.The effectiveness of the treatment assessed by using standard tests and influences of the finishing for some general textile properties as weight, thickness, tensile strength, elongation, air permeability, thermal gravimetric analysis, ultraviolet protection factor, anti-bacterial test, contact angle and color fastness properties as well as the durability of the treatments was investigated.The optimal performance reached through pad – dry – cure process for high concentration Silica Dioxide NPs treatment for woven cotton fabric.Keywords: Silicon Dioxide, Anti-bacterial, Ultraviolet protection, Cotton fabrics, multifunction properties Aim of workThe main goal of the current research is using silicon dioxide for proper finishing formulation for functionalization of cotton fabric to enhance its properties.ConclusionThis study shows that the performance of SiO2 NPs treatment application on the surface of cotton fabrics. These have successfully achieved the UV-Blocking, hydrophobic, thermal stability, and antibacterial properties. The effect of these treatments were tested for mechanical, physical, thermo-comfort and functional properties of 100% cotton fabrics (Woven fabric, Indian Cotton, and Egyptian Cotton Giza 86), these properties either enhanced after the NPs treatment by the pad-dry-cure process or exhausting process.After dyeing with direct dye and washing all results proved that, the pad-dry-cure method with high concentration SiO2 NPs gave the best results especially with the woven fabric. The dyeing process with direct dye have a good impact on the fastness properties of the fabric (washing, perspiration, and light)