Thermal and antimicrobial evaluation of cotton functionalized with a chitosan-zeolite composite and microcapsules of phase-change materials

Abstract

Antimicrobial cotton was developed using silver zeolites (SZ). Three different application approaches are followed for cotton surface functionalisation: (1) SZ alone, (2) SZ combined with chitosan film, and (3) chitosan-zeolite (CS-SZ) composite, previously synthesized by gelation process with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). All finishes were applied into the textile materials through conventional pad-dry-cure processes and the obtained results were then compared. The resulting materials were characterized using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared thermography and contact angle measurement, and the antimicrobial activity was evaluated. The results suggest that the application of CS-SZ should be recommended to produce textiles with antibacterial properties, showing activity against E. coli, S. aureus, C. albicans and T. rubrum. In addition, the finish can be combined with the application of microcapsules of phase change materials (mPCM) to obtain textiles with thermoregulation properties.