Laundering Durability of Photocatalyzed Self-Cleaning Cotton Fabric with TiO₂ Nanoparticles Covalently Immobilized

Abstract

Photocatalyzed self-cleaning cotton fabrics with TiO2 nanoparticles covalently immobilized are obtained by cograft polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) together with the surface functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles under γ-ray irradiation. The covalent bonds between the TiO2 nanoparticles and cotton fabrics bridged by poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) graft chains is strong enough to survive 30 accelerated laundering circles, equivalent to 150 commercial or domestic launderings.