Woven Textiles Coated with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Thermophysiological Comfort Properties

Abstract

This study investigates the role of ultrasonic energy and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) coating on thermophysiological properties of woven fabrics. Thermophysiological properties were evaluated on heat and mass transfer basis. Alambeta and moisture management tester were used for thermal evaluation and moisture transportation. Furthermore, thermophysiological parameters were applied to evaluate physical and overall thermophysiological comfort properties, i.e. thermal resistance, thermal diffusivity, heat flow, wetting time, and accumulative one-way transport index of untreated and ZnO treated samples. The results reveal the influence of ultrasonic energy on surface roughness and topography of cotton and polyester woven fabrics. ZnO NPs coating on textile substrates, surface morphology, and purity of crystal phase were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, X-ray Diffractometry, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy.

Keywords

• zno
• thermal resistance
• thermophysiological comfort
• thermal diffusivity
• heat flow