Study of stain-eliminating textiles using ZnO nanoparticles

We report the synthesis and characterization of nano-sized zinc oxide (ZnO) particles and their application on cotton and polyester/cotton (P/C) fabrics for imparting and evaluating the stain-eliminating or stain-release function by surface modification. The ZnO nanoparticles were produced in different conditions of temperature (90°C or 150°C) and reacting medium (water or 1,2-ethanediol). A high temperature was necessary to obtain small mono-dispersed particles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray powder diffractometry were used to characterize the nanoparticles' composition, their shape, size, and crystallinity, respectively. ZnO nanoparticles were then applied to 100% cotton and P/C samples to impart stain-eliminating function to the treated textiles. The effectiveness of the treatment was assessed through a standardized test procedure for stain release. The results have been recorded, analyzed, and reported in this paper.