Facile fabrication of multifunctional cotton fabric by AgNC@boronate polymer/crosslinked chitosan

Multifunctional cotton fabrics (M-CF) have important application prospects in intelligent home decoration and material packaging. In this work, nanoparticles (AgNC@BP) were prepared by coating the surface of silver nanocubes (AgNCs) with borate polymer. Subsequently, M-CF with electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption, mechanical enhancement, flame-retardancy and antibacterial performances were prepared by immersing cotton fabrics (CF) into AgNC@BP/crosslinked chitosan (CS) solution. Expectantly, AgNC@BP endows AgNC@BP/CS-CF with good flame retardancy and low combustion heat release. That is, the char length of AgNC@BP/CS-CF is 7.9 cm after the vertical burning test (UL-94 V) and the peak heat release rate (pHRR) of AgNC@BP/CS-CF is reduced by 21.4% compared to pure CF. Meanwhile, the tensile strength of AgNC@BP/CS-CF is 18.8% higher than that of CF. Synchronously, the introduction of AgNC@BP can also endow M-CF with better EMW absorption, mechanical and antibacterial properties. In conclusion, this work provides a tactic for fabricating M-CF.