Enhancing the Antimicrobial and UV Resistance Properties of PC Blend and Recycled Cotton Fabric through Ag/TiO2 Nanocomposite

Abstract

Smart fabrics with multifunctional properties, such as antimicrobial reduction, superhydrophobicity, and UV resistance, have been highly desirable in medical textiles and sportswear. In this study, we demonstrate a cost-effective approach to achieving these properties. A nanosolution of silver and titanium dioxide was prepared, and a dip coating method was used to coat the polyester–cotton blend and 20% recycled cotton fabric. The investigation of the morphologies and chemical composition clarified the formation of Ag/TiO₂ coating on the fabric surface, with the average particle size of silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles being ∼15 and ∼18 nm, respectively. The amorphous coating on fabric surfaces exhibited excellent antibacterial reduction against Staphylococcus aureus (99.99%) and Escherichia coli (99.99%) bacteria. Due to the TiO₂ nanoparticles on fabric surfaces, the coated fabric samples exhibited superhydrophobicity, with water contact angles of 160 ± 2 and 141 ± 2° for the polyester cotton blend fabric samples (PCBF-I, PCBF-II) and 148 ± 2 and 156 ± 2° for the 20% recycled cotton fabric samples (RCBF-I, RCBF-II). All of the coated fabrics showed UV-resistant properties, whereas 20% recycled cotton fabric (RCBF-II) showed the highest UV-protecting properties. The coated fabrics exhibited excellent, moderate, and good color fastness to wash, rubbing, and light properties, respectively. With its promising results, this simple and inexpensive technique is of significant interest for developing novel high-performance and multifunctional textiles, offering a cost-effective solution for the industry.