Imparting protective properties to lyocell fabric via single and multi-functional finishing treatments

2010 Spring.Includes bibliographic references.Covers not scanned.Print version deaccessioned 2022.Lyocell is a fiber made from wood pulp cellulose. Like other cellulosic fibers, it is breathable, absorbent, very comfortable to wear, and biodegradable. Lyocell fiber is also eco-friendly and sustainable since the solvent used to manufacture the fiber is environmentally not hazardous and the manufacturing of lyocell is a closed-loop process. Lyocell has been treated a myriad of ways to enhance its value-added potential. However, no studies were found to have been done to impart protective properties such as resistance to UV-radiation and resistance to microbes. In this study, untreated lyocell fabric was analyzed for its protective properties against UV radiation and disease causing microbes. Lyocell was found to afford no protection against UV radiation and also possessed no anti-microbial activity against the three microbes investigated in this study. To improve its protective properties, lyocell was finished with UV-absorbers. To enhance its antimicrobial property, lyocell was treated with an antimicrobial agent. It was experimentally determined that a UV-absorber concentration of 2% on weight of fabric was sufficient to improve the UV properties of lyocell fabric to an excellent degree. The antimicrobial concentration for excellent antimicrobial activity was found to be 0.5% on weight of fabric. Combining several processing steps to reduce time and cost is preferred in the textile industry so the synergistic effect of UV absorber treatment and antimicrobial treatment from a multi- functional treatment bath was explored in the next phase of the study. Lyocell fabrics were treated with the optimum amount of UV-absorber and antimicrobial agent. The data showed the UV-protection of lyocell fabric was not imparted negatively when a multi-functional bath was employed. Similarly, the antimicrobial efficiency was not reduced on multi-functional finishing treatment. Further, the finishing treatments, both single and multi-functional were durable to laundering and to light exposure