Superior self‐cleaning features on wool fabric using TiO₂/Ag nanocomposite optimized by response surface methodology

Abstract

Abstract Wool fabrics with superior self‐cleaning properties produced using titanium dioxide/silver nanocomposite. The TiO 2 /Ag nanocomposite first synthesized under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and sonication and then applied on wool fabrics along with citric acid (CA) as a crosslinking agent to stabilize the nanoparticles on the wool surface. The optimum conditions of different properties of the treated wool fabrics obtained using response surface methodology as a statistical method. The role of three independent variables including titanium dioxide/silver nanocomposite (TiO 2 /Ag), CA, and sodium hypophosphite evaluated to optimize the processing conditions. Fabrics color variation determined after irradiation with three diverse UV sources including sunlight, UV‐A, and UV‐C rays. Increasing the concentration of TiO 2 /Ag nanocomposite increased the color removal and decreased the water absorption time. Further, increasing the concentration of CA led to increase adsorption of TiO 2 /Ag nanocomposite on the fabric surface improved self‐cleaning features of treated wool fabrics. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012