Background and problem
In recent years, there has been a growing need to develop cost-effective, value added, eco-safe, functional and durable textile products. Special focus has been given to the implementation of emerging technologies such as bio-, nano- and/or plasma technologies in textile wet processes to cope with the ever-increasing environmental, health and quality concerns. Taking these facts into account, much of our R&D efforts have been focused on developing functionalized textile products with desirable, durable functional and improved coloration properties using proper functional finishing and/or printing formulations and a facile single–stage process.
The main task and results
we report the technical feasibility of upgrading both the functional properties and pigment coloration of wool and wool/polyester blended fabrics in one-step via incorporation of certain functional additives namely PEG-600, and triclosan derivative (Ruco® BAC MED) into the solvent-free formulations, followed by screen printing and microwave-fixation to obtain antibacterial functionalized wool and wool/polyester pigment prints.
Results obtained signify that:
1- The improvement in the depth of the obtained pigment prints along with a remarkable enhancement in their antibacterial activity through incorporation of PEG-600 (20g/kg) and triclosan derivatives (Ruco® BAC MED) (20g/kg) into free-solvent pigment pastes followed by flat screen printing and microwave fixation.
2- The imparted functional properties, i.e. antibacterial, K/S and fastness, are governed by the nature of the reactive additives, the type of substrate and the kind of pigment colorant.
3- The imparted antibacterial activity of the loaded bio-active agents follows the decreasing order: G+ve (S.aureus) > G-ve (E.coli)