Imparting cotton textiles glow-in-the-dark property along with other functional properties: photochromism, flame-retardant, water-repellency, and antimicrobial activity

Abstract

AbstractScreen-printing and spray-coating methods were used to produce photoluminescent, water-repellent, and antimicrobial films on textile fibers. The cotton fabrics were firstly finished with a flame-resistant agent. There are a number of functional agents that have been applied during the textile finishing process, including strontium aluminate pigment as antibacterial and photoluminescent agent, flame-retardant organophosphate, and water-repellent silicone rubber. The current research investigated the surface morphologies and chemical compositions of the screen-printed and spray-coated fabric cottons using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). According to morphological analysis, the phosphor nanoparticles had sizes ranging from 2 to 12 nm. After excitation at 399 nm, the generated colorless photoluminescent layer deposited onto cotton surface showed an emission profile at 516 nm. The luminescence spectra and CIE Lab characteristics confirmed that the phosphor-coated textiles displayed a white color in visible spectrum and green emission in the presence of UV light. It has been shown by analysis that the tested colors are very stable over time. The measurements of static water contact and sliding angles were also explored. The self-extinguishing activity of the coated fabrics retained their flame-retardant properties over 24 laundry cycles. Antimicrobial activity, hydrophobicity, and luminous properties were improved without affecting the intrinsic physical and mechanical features of the treated textiles. Details on the CIE Lab colorimetric measurements were discussed. The stiffness and air permeability were examined to explore the flexibility and breathability of the treated textile fibers. Excellent reversibility and photostability were seen in the phosphor-coated materials.