Developing UV- protective textiles for workwear applications using various ZnO nanoparticles and cold plasma.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Textiles are crucial for workwear safety and comfort.
• Nanotechnology offers novel functionalities for textiles.
• Developing UV-protective workwear is essential for worker health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop UV-protective textiles for workwear applications.
• To utilize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) synthesized via chemical and green methods.
• To investigate the efficacy of cold plasma treatment for enhancing UV protection.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized ZnO-NPs using chemical and green methods.
• Characterized ZnO-NPs using microscopy, spectroscopy, XRD, and DLS.
• Treated textiles with ZnO-NPs using pad-dry-cure-pad method, with citric acid or cold plasma for adhesion.
• Measured Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) and air permeability before and after washing.

Main Results:

• XRD confirmed ZnO-NP presence; band gaps were ~3.27-3.28 eV.
• UPF values increased significantly after treatment, especially with green ZnO-NPs and cold plasma (up to 658).
• Air permeability improved post-treatment, with cold plasma showing notable increases.
• UPF decreased after five wash cycles, but treated textiles retained higher protection.

Conclusions:

• Green synthesis of ZnO-NPs is a cost-effective and sustainable alternative.
• Cold plasma treatment combined with green ZnO-NPs provides superior UV protection for textiles.
• Enhanced UV protection in workwear textiles contributes to improved worker safety.