Active Multifunctional Cotton Treated with Zeolite Nanoparticles

Abstract

Natural zeolites are aluminosilicate crystals with unique absorption and catalyst properties. In medicine they are attributed antitumor, antiallergic, antiseptic, antireumatic and other properties. They also exert a strong influence on blood circulation improvement. Addition of zeolite nanoparticles in different textile pre-treatment and treatment phases is a novelty in textile finishing for multifunctional protection effects. Zeolites make a contribution to UV protection since they disperse UV radiation unlike other agents which absorb it and prevent their transmission. If zeolites are added to azalides in textile finishing, they increase their efficacious antimicrobial action. The paper describes cotton knitted fabric mercerized and bleached with addition of activated zeolite, clinoptilolite nanoparticles and treated with azalide to achieve multifunctional protection. Clinoptilolite was added into baths for cotton pretreatment, treatment and modification. Properties of the treated cotton were determined by international standards (EN, ISO, AS/NZS, AATCC).