Smart and sustainable materials for military applications based on natural fibres and silver nanoparticles

Abstract

Multifunctional fibrous systems were developed within this research work, giving special importance to the electrical conductivity and antibacterial activity. The functionalization of several natural fibres (jute, sisal, coir, flax and cotton) with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was successfully achieved using a sustainable and eco-friendly method, namely polyethylene glycol (PEG) reduction. FESEM images, GSDR and ATR-FTIR analysis show that the Ag NPs were incorporated onto the fibres surface. The resistivity values obtained by analysing the fabrics without functionalization was about 1.5x107 Ω.m while with the Ag NPs functionalization the resistivity values decreased almost 15000 times, to 1.0x 103 Ω.m. Jute fibres’ antibacterial efficiency was also studied using the fibres with incorporated nanoparticles. Jute/Ag NPs showed some activity against E. Coli and S. Aureus. Polylactic acid (PLA) was used to develop flexible biodegradable composites with the functionalized jute. The compatibilization of the jute with PLA was successful and the characterization of the final composites was performed by GSDR, ATR-FTIR and TGA.