Elsevier

Materials Science and Engineering: C

Volume 58, 1 January 2016, Pages 495-503
Materials Science and Engineering: C

Aminolysis of polyethylene terephthalate surface along with in situ synthesis and stabilizing ZnO nanoparticles using triethanolamine optimized with response surface methodology

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2015.08.065Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Durable photo-bio-active polyester with variable hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity

  • Simultaneous polyester surface aminolysis and ZnO ball-like nanoparticle production

  • Multi-role of TEA for polyester aminolysis and nanoparticle formation

  • Optimization of photoactivity and wettability by central composite design

Abstract

This research concerned the simultaneous polyester surface modification and synthesis of zinc oxide nano-reactors to develop durable photo-bio-active fabric with variable hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity under sunlight. For this purpose, triethanolamine (TEA) was applied as a stabilizer and pH adjusting chemical for the aminolysis of polyester surface and enhancing the surface reactivity along with synthesis and deposition of ZnO nanoparticles on the fabric. Therefore, TEA played a crucial role in providing the alkaline condition for the preparation of zinc oxide nanoparticles and acting as stabilizer controlling the size of the prepared nanoparticles. The stain–photodegradability regarded as self-cleaning efficiency, wettability and weight change under the process was optimized based on zinc acetate and TEA concentrations, using central composite design (CCD). Findings also suggested the potential of the prepared fabric in inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria growth with greater than 99.99% antibacterial efficiency. Besides, the proposed treatment had no detrimental effect on tensile strength and hand feeling of the polyester fabric.

Keywords

Polyester
ZnO nanoparticles
Triethanolamine
Self-cleaning properties
Antibacterial
Central composite design

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