Introduction
Increased concern regarding damage resulting from the exposure to microbial organisms, chemical reagents, insecticides, ultraviolet irradiation and pollutants in the last decade, has heightened the requirement for protective clothing materials. Garments today are required to be waterproofing, flame resistant, self-cleaning, pest repellent and microbicidal to protect human body from the infections, ultraviolet irradiation, chemical and biological reagents, be warmer in cold weather and comfortable in summer. Conventional methodologies of finishing application, such as pad-dry-cure or coating that are recently being applied to make the fabrics acquire the microbicidal, ultraviolet shielding, self-cleaning and fire-retardant finishing reagents, are usually combined with increase in fiber thickness, loss of smoothness and drape, lowering the washing fastness, poor of mechanical properties and most importantly reduced the comfortability to the wearers (Durán et al.
2007; Fei et al.
2006; Mehta
2008; Rao et al.
2015; Simončič & Klemenčič,
2016; Vigneshwaran et al.
2006).
The protective clothes could be identified as textile materials that are mainly applicable to protect human body from any external threat. Moreover, there are vital safety issues correlating to their applications as well as the disposal of chemical reagents used for their contemporary finishing. Therefore, the researchers considered with the field of textile industry were continued to look for alternative finishing reagents and technologies that must be environment friendly, with high fastness, low cost and not disadvantageously affect the comfort of clothes while providing efficiency and optimum protection (Baglioni et al.
2005; Hassabo et al.
2019; Subash et al.
2012; Wong et al.
2006; Zhang et al.
2018). Cotton fabrics were exploited in different applications and purposes owing to their outstanding properties like biodegradability, absorbability, softness, and breathability, but disadvantageous with prone to be attacked with microbes especially bacterial strains, poor ultraviolet shielding, and high flammability (Goncalves et al.
2009; Li et al.
2007a,
b; Li et al.
2007a,
b).
Numerous approaches were considered with investigating different techniques for acquirement different textile materials with number of additional functions, like coloration (Ahmed et al.
2018; Emam & Abdelhameed
2017), self-cleaning (Emam et al.
2018; Emam et al.
2020a,
b,
c; Rehan et al.
2013), optical activity (Emam et al.
2018), insect repellency (Abdel-Mohdy et al.
2008; Abdelhameed et al.
2017), microbicidal activities (Ahmed et al.
2017a,
b; Emam et al.
2020; Ibrahim et al.
2021), electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding (Gao et al.
2021; Tan et al.
2018; Wang et al.
2021), and ultraviolet shielding (Ates & Unalan
2012; Emam, et al.
2020; Khan et al.
2015; Nazari et al.
2013). In addition to, the protective masking and air-filtering textiles have been prepared for protection from the chemical warfare gases and produced via the immobilization of different functionalizing reagents, like lipophilic activated carbon with efficient adsorption action (X. Li et al.
2011).
Numerous reports were considered with the exploitation of some organic reagents for textiles functionalization, like triclosan for antibacterial potency, benzophenones for ultraviolet shielding, dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea for anti-crease performance, fluorocarbons for lipophilic characters, long-chain hydrocarbons and polydimethylsiloxanes for flexibility and softening (Almeida
2006; Hewson
1994). Butane tetra-carboxylic acid, citric acid and maleic acid (Welch
1988; Yang et al.
2010; Yang et al.
1998) were also exfoliated for acquiring cotton fabrics with anti-crease action.
Different types of metallic based nanomaterials were reported to efficiently applicable in various fields (Ali et al.
2021; Karatepe et al.
2021; Tümen et al.
2021), especially sewage treatment, chemical synthesis, hydrogen storage, exhaust gas treatment, and oil refinement (Adams & Chen
2011; Hughes et al.
1995; Lee et al.
2010; Mackus et al.
2015; Meyer et al.
2015; Moon et al.
2014; Zaluski et al.
1995). The priority of nanosized materials is attributed to their high surface area per volume ratio, highly organized composition, high density of coordinative sites, high oxidation activity, and superior mechanical and thermal stabilities (Cano et al.
2017).
Numerous studies were demonstrated textiles functionalization via immobilization of various noble-metal nanostructures such as silver (Ahmed et al.
2018; Emam et al.
2016a,
b; Rao et al.
2015; Simončič & Klemenčič,
2016), gold (Hanan B Ahmed et al.
2017a,
b; Emam et al.
2017), titanium dioxide (Durán et al.
2007; Fei et al.
2006; Vigneshwaran et al.
2006) and zinc oxide (Baglioni et al.
2005; Hassabo et al.
2019; Zhang et al.
2018). However, palladium (Pd) nanostructures were reported to be efficiently applicable in catalysis (Abdelhameed et al.
2020; Emam & Ahmed
2019; Emam et al.
2020a,
b,
c; Emam et al.
2020a,
b,
c; Lim et al.
2010). Palladium was successfully applied as catalyst for facilitating the hydrogen absorptivity and detection owing to its high affinities in absorption of hydrogen (Adams & Chen
2011; Lee et al.
2010; Moon et al.
2014; Rikkinen et al.
2011; Zaluski et al.
1995). Moreover, palladium nanostructures were found to be more efficient in removal of dyes from the aqueous media via the heterogenous catalysis than many typically applied methodologies, like filtration, biological treatment, chemical precipitation, adsorption and techniques. According to our knowledge, no researching studies were considered with exploitation of palladium nanostructures in textile functionalization.
Herein, a novel/investigative approach for preparation of excellent ultraviolet protective cotton fabric is uniquely proposed via self-implantation of palladium nanoclusters. Whereas, for the first time, the immobilized palladium nanoclusters were functionalized in acquirement of the treated fabrics excellent ultraviolet shielding potency. The particle size of the dispersed palladium nanoclusters in supernatant solution was estimated from transmission electron microscopic images. Regulative implantation of palladium nanoclusters was proceeded via immobilization within the polymeric matrix of both native and cationized cotton fabrics. Afterward, the modified fabrics were characterized via infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), colorimetric measurements (color coordinates and color strength), mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation percentage), and UV-protective action (transmittance percent, ultraviolet protection factor UPF and ultraviolet protection rating).
Experimental work
Materials and chemicals
Palladium chloride (PdCl2, 99%, from Sigma-Aldrich – USA), Sodium hydroxide (99%, from Merck, Darmstadt–Germany), acetic acid and sodium carbonate were of laboratory grade chemicals. 3-Chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (69%) of technical grade chemicals (known as Quatt-188) was purchased under the commercial name CR-2000 from Aldrich. All the chemicals were used as supplied without any further purification. Mill de-sized, scoured and bleached cotton fabric, plain weave, supplied by El-Nasr Company for spinning weaving and Dyeing El-Mahallah El-Kubra, Egypt. The fabric was further purified in the laboratory by washing at 100 °C for 60 min using a solution containing 2 g/L, Na2CO3 and 1 g/L, non-ionic surfactant. Lastly, the fabrics were washed several times with boiling water then with cold water and finally dried at ambient conditions.
Procedure
Cationization of cotton fabrics
Chemical modification of the cotton gauze through cationization was carried out according to literature (Hashem et al.
2009,
2005). The experimental procedure adopted was as follows: 3-Chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (Quat-188) was mixed with sodium hydroxide solution with a molar ratio of 2 (NaOH):1 (Quat-188). The cotton gauze samples were padded in this mixture in two dips and two nips, and then squeezed to a wet pick-up of about 100%. The cotton gauze was dried at 40 °C for 10 min and cured at 120 °C for 3 min. Thus, treated cotton gauze samples were washed with cold water and 1% acetic acid, followed by several washing cycles and finally dried under the normal laboratory conditions.
Self-implantation of palladium nanoclusters
The palladium nanoclusters were self-implanted in to the native and cationized cotton fabrics by dipping method. In this procedure, pieces of cotton fabrics (0.25 g) were impregnated in distilled water and stirred till temperature reached 90 °C then palladium salt solution with specific concentration (20 and 60 mM) was added with liquor ratio of 2:50 at two different pH (2 & 11.5) and left for continuous stirring at 90 °C for 30 min. Afterward, the fabric pieces were air dried before they were instrumentally analyzed. Table
1 represented the samples that were prepared in the current approach under different experimental conditions.
Table 1
Description of the Pd-modified cotton fabrics
Pd-C1 | Cotton | 20 | 2.0 |
Pd-C2 | Cotton | 60 | 2.0 |
Pd-C3 | Cotton | 20 | 11.5 |
Pd-C4 | Cotton | 60 | 11.5 |
Pd-CC (50)1 | Cationic (50) Cotton | 20 | 2.0 |
Pd-CC (50)2 | Cationic (50) Cotton | 60 | 2.0 |
Pd-CC (50)3 | Cationic (50) Cotton | 20 | 11.5 |
Pd-CC (50)4 | Cationic (50) Cotton | 60 | 11.5 |
Pd-CC (100)1 | Cationic (100) Cotton | 20 | 2.0 |
Pd-CC (100)2 | Cationic (100) Cotton | 60 | 2.0 |
Pd-CC (100)3 | Cationic (100) Cotton | 20 | 11.5 |
Pd-CC (100)4 | Cationic (100) Cotton | 60 | 11.5 |
Temperature = 90 ± 3 °C, Time = 30 min, where, 50 and 100 referring to the experimental percent of Quaternary ammonium salt used for cationization.
Characterization and instrumental analysis
Geometrical shape and size distribution of the self-implanted palladium nanoclusters were estimated by using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (JEOL-JEM-1200; Japan). Size distribution of palladium nanoclusters was evaluated with 4 pi analysis software (from USA) for at least 50 particles. The treated fabrics were characterized via the high-resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM Quanta FEG 250 with a field emission gun, FEI Company, Netherlands). Elemental analysis was also estimated using an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDAX AME-TEK analyzer). The infrared spectra of the treated fabrics were obtained by using a Jasco FT/IR 6100 spectrometer. Their spectral mapping data were ranged from 4000 to 400 cm−1 and were determined with 4 cm−1 resolution and 64-time scanning with a rate of 2 mm/sec. Additionally, the prepared fabrics were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction using X’Pert MPD diffractometer system from Philips, at room temperature. Diffraction patterns were estimated in the diffraction angle (2θ) range of 3.5–50° using monochromatized (Cu Kα X-radiation at 40 kV, 50 mA and λ = 1.5406 Å).
The colorimetric data (L, a*, b*, absorbance, color strength [K/S], whiteness index E313 [D65/10] and yellowness index E313 [D65/10] of the treated fabrics were estimated using a spectrophotometer attached with a pulsed xenon lamp (UltraScan Pro, Hunter Lab, USA). The color coordinate parameters of L*, a*, and b* corresponded to the lightness (black/white, 0/100), red/green ratio (+ / −), and yellow/blue ratio (+ / −), respectively (Hanan B Ahmed et al.
2017a,
b; Ahmed et al.
2018). The measurement was performed three times for estimation of the average values. The mechanical properties of the treated fabrics were investigated, while, tensile strength (MPa) and elongation at break (%) for the fabrics were estimated related to ASTM method D2256 − 66 T by using the strip test methodology on the tester instrument (Asano machine MFG. Co. Ltd., Japan). Transmission spectral results (T%) for ultraviolet irradiation (UVR) over pristine and cationized cotton before and after the successive implantation of palladium nanoclusters were estimated using JASCO V-750 spectrophotometer (Japan) in the range of 280–400 nm with two nanometers interval. Additionally, ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), resistance in UV-A (315–400) region (UVA) and in UV–B (280–315) region (UVB) were predicted using the AATCC test method 183–2010.44. For each sample, estimation was estimation for two different times, and the average was calculated.
Durability
Table
5 represents the effect of repetitive washing cycles on the colorimetric data for the fabrics after successive immobilization of palladium nanoclusters. From the tabulated data it could be depicted that, cationization acted in preparation of higher durable fabrics, as even after 10 washing cycles, yellowness index of the cationized cotton (Pd-CC (100)4, 43.09 ± 2.09) was extremely higher than that of non-cationized fabric (Pd-C4, 7.34 ± 1.23). Whereas, with duplication of the cationization percentage from 50% up to 100%, color strength (K/S) was significantly higher for fabrics prepared under alkaline condition with higher concentration of palladium precursor (Pd-C4, 2.37 ± 0.41; Pd-CC (50)4, 7.80 ± 0.95; Pd-CC (100)4, 10.12 ± 1.32). These could affirm the effect of cationization for stabilized immobilization of palladium nanoclusters within the fabric matrix. Table
6 displayed the effect of washing on the ultraviolet protection results for the fabrics modified with palladium nanoclusters. The obtained results approved the effect of cationization in successive implantation of palladium nanoclusters, stabilized within the fabric matrix with repetitive washings to prepare highly durable/functionalized fabrics. Whereas, the results showed that, even after 10 washing cycles, the ultraviolet protection factor rating was decreased from excellent (UPF, Pd-CC (100)4, 256.6) to very good (UPF, Pd-CC (100)4, 39.6) for the cationized fabrics, while, it was significantly lowered from excellent (UPF, Pd-C4, 103.4) to good (UPF, Pd-C4, 23.5).
Table 5
Colorimetric data for the Pd-modified cotton fabrics after washing
5 Washings | Pd-C3 | 76.63 ± 1.22 | 2.13 ± 0.44 | 4.45 ± 0.82 | 25.92 ± 3.23 | 13.43 ± 1.21 | 4.99 ± 0.63 |
Pd-C4 | 74.67 ± 1.04 | 2.85 ± 0.18 | 6.28 ± 0.90 | 12.87 ± 1.68 | 19.19 ± 1.83 | 5.11 ± 0.81 |
Pd-CC (50)3 | 58.29 ± 0.93 | 4.39 ± 0.64 | 14.08 ± 1.22 | − 46.94 ± 2.27 | 37.80 ± 2.35 | 7.02 ± 0.82 |
Pd-CC (50)4 | 54.73 ± 0.88 | 5.46 ± 0.72 | 16.51 ± 1.18 | − 55.69 ± 3.55 | 46.20 ± 2.44 | 10.10 ± 1.12 |
Pd-CC (100)3 | 49.70 ± 1.01 | 0.29 ± 0.22 | 5.42 ± 0.91 | − 51.38 ± 2.52 | 44.26 ± 3.16 | 8.86 ± 1.27 |
Pd-CC (100)4 | 48.56 ± 0.91 | 0.19 ± 0.25 | 0.94 ± 0.24 | − 68.43 ± 3.43 | 53.55 ± 3.02 | 13.04 ± 1.76 |
10 Washings | Pd-C3 | 81.91 ± 1.42 | 1.53 ± 0.43 | 0.83 ± 0.12 | 54.39 ± 2.18 | 4.16 ± 1.01 | 2.14 ± 0.31 |
Pd-C4 | 80.23 ± 1.05 | 1.97 ± 0.37 | 1.89 ± 0.32 | 46.28 ± 2.37 | 7.34 ± 1.23 | 2.37 ± 0.41 |
Pd-CC (50)3 | 67.46 ± 0.72 | 3.26 ± 0.51 | 9.26 ± 1.02 | − 12.73 ± 1.11 | 27.61 ± 1.94 | 5.95 ± 0.74 |
Pd-CC (50)4 | 64.70 ± 0.48 | 4.15 ± 0.48 | 11.39 ± 1.14 | − 27.78 ± 2.26 | 33.69 ± 2.22 | 7.80 ± 0.95 |
Pd-CC (100)3 | 59.31 ± 0.85 | 4.85 ± 0.72 | 12.75 ± 1.46 | − 28.00 ± 2.05 | 38.73 ± 1.92 | 7.40 ± 1.04 |
Pd-CC (100)4 | 57.18 ± 0.67 | 5.53 ± 0.54 | 15.15 ± 1.77 | − 36.47 ± 3.12 | 43.09 ± 2.09 | 10.12 ± 1.32 |
Table 6
Ultraviolet protection results for the washed Pd-modified cotton fabrics
5 Washings | Pd-C3 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 96.1 | 96.1 | 22.4 |
Pd-C4 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 96.3 | 96.2 | 23.5 |
Pd-CC (50)3 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 97.5 | 97.4 | 40.6 |
Pd-CC (50)4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 97.6 | 97.6 | 41.4 |
Pd-CC (100)3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 98.4 | 98.4 | 72.4 |
Pd-CC (100)4 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 98.8 | 98.6 | 75.2 |
10 Washings | Pd-C3 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 94.2 | 94.3 | 15.8 |
Pd-C4 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 94.4 | 94.5 | 16.7 |
Pd-CC (50)3 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 96.4 | 96.3 | 24.4 |
Pd-CC (50)4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 96.5 | 96.5 | 25.3 |
Pd-CC (100)3 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 97.1 | 97.2 | 36.8 |
Pd-CC (100)4 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 97.4 | 97.3 | 39.6 |
Conclusion
In the current study, for the first time, self-implantation of palladium nanoclusters within cotton fabrics was proceeded in order to act as strong ultraviolet absorbers to acquire the treated fabrics excellent ultraviolet protection potency with full shielding effects. The self-implanted palladium nanoclusters were immobilized within the polymeric matrix of both native and cationized cotton fabrics. For all the prepared specimens, the effects of the concentration of palladium precursor, pH, and cationization percentage on the particle size of the implanted nanoclusters, in addition to, the color coordinates, yellowness index, whiteness index, color strength, tensile strength, elongation percentage were systematically studied. The effect of repetitive washing cycles on the colorimetric data and the results of ultraviolet protection were also represented. From all of the illustrated data, it could be summarized that, palladium nanoclusters acted superiorly as strong ultraviolet shielding sites within the fabric matrix. The yellowness degree and UV protection potency were shown to follow the trend of Pd-CC (100)4 > Pd-CC (50)4 > > Pd-C4 > > Cationized (100) Cotton > Cationized (50) Cotton > native cotton. Pd-CC (100)4 exhibited good mechanical properties and excellent ultraviolet protection potentiality, that could be attributed to the effect of cationization in the stronger implantation of palladium nanoclusters within the fabrics. It could be eventually reported that, the textile industry should address the unique presented challenge for production of excellent ultraviolet protective cotton fabrics with full shielding effect, via self-implantation of palladium nanoclusters.
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