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The Durable Chitosan Functionalization of Cellulosic Fabrics.
Sandra Flinčec Grgac1, Tea-Dora Biruš1, Anita Tarbuk1
1Department of Textile Chemistry and Ecology, University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology, Prilaz baruna Filipovića 28a, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Polymers
|September 28, 2023
Summary
This study investigated the durability of chitosan-treated cotton and blended fabrics after repeated washing. 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) demonstrated superior performance as a crosslinking agent for chitosan compared to maleic acid (MA).
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Textile Chemistry
- Biopolymers
Background:
- Chitosan, a natural biopolymer, offers valuable properties like antimicrobial activity, biocompatibility, and wound healing potential.
- Functionalizing cellulosic textiles with chitosan can impart desirable properties, but its durability through laundering cycles remains a key challenge.
- Previous research focused on applying chitosan for antimicrobial textiles, with limited data on long-term performance after maintenance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the durability of chitosan functionalization on cotton and cotton/polyester blended fabrics.
- To compare the effectiveness of maleic acid (MA) and 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) as crosslinking agents for chitosan.
- To assess the impact of repeated maintenance cycles on the mechanical, optical, and antimicrobial properties of functionalized textiles.
Main Methods:
- Chitosan functionalization of cellulosic fabrics using MA or BTCA as crosslinking agents and sodium hypophosphite monohydrate as a catalyst.
- Subjecting treated fabrics to 10 maintenance cycles following ISO 6330:2012 standards (Reference detergent 3, Procedure F drying).
- Analyzing crosslinking via Fourier infrared spectrometry with Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR), and evaluating mechanical properties, whiteness, yellowing, and antimicrobial activity using standard methods.
Main Results:
- 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) exhibited superior crosslinking ability with chitosan on cellulosic substrates compared to maleic acid (MA).
- Fabric properties, including mechanical strength, whiteness, and antimicrobial efficacy, were monitored after the 3rd and 10th wash cycles.
- The study provides quantitative data on the durability of chitosan functionalization under rigorous laundering conditions.
Conclusions:
- BTCA is a more effective crosslinking agent than MA for enhancing the durability of chitosan-functionalized cellulosic textiles.
- Chitosan functionalization shows potential for creating durable antimicrobial textiles, with BTCA-treated fabrics demonstrating better performance retention.
- This research addresses the critical need for understanding the long-term stability of chitosan treatments in textile applications.
