Abstract
Improvement of physical properties in a addition to impart antimicrobial properties to cotton fabric and modified cotton fabric by using herbal in the presence of softeners is the target of the present work, first of all modification of cotton fabric was done during cationization process by the means of cationizing agent, namely, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (Quat-188); also, cotton fabric was modified during carboxymethlation process of it. And then treatments of cotton and modified cotton fabrics was carried out by different concentration of both Neem and Tulsi Extract as essential oil in the presence of Silicon Micro Emulsion (SiME) or Nonionic softeners for improving the performance of the treated fabric. Physical properties evaluations of the treated fabric were done by monitoring tensile strength, elongation, roughness, water absorbency (wettability). Finally the treated fabrics was evaluated as antimicrobial and characterized by the mean of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).
Key words: Cotton; Antimicrobial; Textile Finishing; Herbal; Medical textile; Essential oil.