DURABILITY AND SELF-CLEANING PERFORMANCE OF GREEN SYNTHESIZED ZNO NANOCOATINGS ON TEXTILE FABRICS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract

This research explores the stability and self-cleaning of textile fabrics, which are covered with the green synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. Preparation of the nanoparticles was a friendly procedure to the environment and was applied to fabric by a simple coating technique. The coated samples were subjected to water contact angle to determine the hydrophobicity and subjected to dust and stains to determine the self-cleaning behavior. The test of durability was conducted by repeated abrasion and washing. It was found that the coated fabrics had high water repulsion and good self-cleaning ability whereby dirt particles could be washed easily using water droplets. The coating was also stable with respect to the fact that it remained functional upon repeated wash cycles. The paper indicates the possibilities of using green ZnO nanocoatings to enhance the functionality of textile materials due to its cost-effectiveness and greenness.