Functionalization of textile fabrics with nanoparticles for UV protection

Author(s)

Luz Esmeralda Roman Mendoza

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH)
• Defense date: 2018-06-06

Examining board members

Silgia Aparecida da Costa; Geórgia Christina Labuto Araújo; Eliana Vieira Canettieri; Adriano Marim de Oliveira

• Advisor: Silgia Aparecida da Costa

Abstract

In Brazil, institutions such as the José Alencar Gomes da Silva National Cancer Institute (INCA) and the Brazilian Ministry of Health reported increase and appearance of new types of cancer in recent years. Skin cancer is the most common type of disease worldwide and generally might be related to the exposure of the skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation generated by the sun. The objective of this work was to perform the functionalization of 100% cotton woven fabrics with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs), which has interesting properties for applications as solar protector, thus improving the protection characteristics of cotton against UV radiation. ZnO NPs were synthesized by the precipitation process using zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO3)2.6H2O) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). In situ synthesis of ZnO NPs onto the fabric was carried out via exhaust dyeing method, using the textile High Temperature (HT) dyeing machine. For this process, different concentrations of Zn(NO3)2.6H2O (2, 5, 8 and 10% on the weight of fabric) and NaOH (0.7, 1.6, 2.5 and 3.0 g/L) were used. The evaluation of UV protection factor (UPF) and wash durability tests were performed according to AATCC 183:2004 and AATCC 61:1996 standards, respectively. Commercial textile resins applications onto functionalized fabrics and determination of physical properties were also performed. In addition, molecular, structural and morphological characterizations of ZnO NPs were carried out and structural, morphological and thermal analyzes were performed for functionalized fabric. The results showed that both ZnO NPs and those in situ synthesized onto the fabric, exhibited wurtzite hexagonal crystalline structure. The ZnO NPs displayed a star-like morphology with very pronounce tips, while the NPs onto the fabric had a similar morphology but with small tips. For all concentrations of zinc nitrate studied, before and after 20 cycles washing, the UPF of cotton fabrics functionalized with ZnO NPs had an UV-protection category between good to excellent (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/04219-5 - Functionalization of textile fabrics with nanoparticles for UV protection
• Grantee: Luz Esmeralda Román Mendoza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master