PHOTOCATALYTIC EFFECT OBTAINED ON TEXTILE BY FINISHING TECHNIQUES

Abstract

This study approached the experimentation of deposition by padding of commercial photocatalytic dispersion AERODISP® W 740 X with 40% solid content of TiO2 on RIPSTOP fabric, made of 100% cotton yarns Nm 70/1 and a network of polyester filament yarns 330 dtex, both in warp and weft directions. The deposition of photocatalytic dispersions on the textile material have been realised by treatment in concomitent phase of textile support with photocatalytic dispersions and with chemical substances used in fixation of TiO2 nanoparticles. As chemical substances used in fixation of TiO2 nanoparticles different crosslinking agents have been used: Itobinder AG (acrylic copolymer), Itobinder U30 NEW (polycarbonate urethane polymer) and Itocoat LJ25 (urethane resin). Itocatalyst SCS and Itocatalyst A were used as catalysts. Photocatalytic activity of functionalized textile materials was evaluated by determining the photodegradation efficiency of methylene blue dye as pollutant, measuring the color difference of the irradiated samples compared with non-irradiated samples. Washing durability of the samples treated with photocatalytic dispersions was conducted qualitatively by determining the photocatalytic activity remaining on the textile fabrics after 1 washing cycle. Electron microscopy was used for viewing the distribution of TiO2 particles on the surface of textile materials treated with the photocatalytic dispersions. Ti content existing on the surface of the textile materials was performed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

Keywords

• photocatalytic textiles
• TiO2
• photodegradation efficiency
• washing durability