Poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) adduct for attaining multifunctional cellulosic fabrics

Aqueous polymerization of partially neutralized acrylic acid (AA) along with polyethylene glycol (PEG-600) at AA/PEG-600 mass ratio 3/1 using ammonium persulfate as initiator under proper conditions results in formation of PAA/PEG-600 adduct. The structure of the adduct was confirmed by FT-IR spectra. The potential applications of the prepared adduct in: sizing, durable hand building of cotton cellulose, as well as in functional finishing of cellulose containing fabrics, i.e. cotton, viscose and cotton/polyester, with Ag- or TiO2-nanoparticles were investigated. The modified substrates using the prepared adduct showed a remarkable improvement in their sizing, hand building and/or functional properties, i.e. antibacterial, anti-UV, and self cleaning, in addition to durability to wash. TEM images of the prepared nano-particles, SEM images of the untreated and treated substrates, as well as EDX spectra to analyze the surface elemental compositions were examined. The tentative mechanisms were also suggested.