Self-Cleaning Properties of Silk Fabrics Functionalized with Tio2/Sio2 Composites

Abstract

Silk fabrics were treated with TiO2/SiO2 composites using the pad-dry-cure method. TiO2/SiO2 composites were prepared through a low-temperature sol-gel method with five different TiO2:SiO2 weight ratio of 100:0, 70:30, 50:50, 30:70, and 0:100. The photocatalytic self-cleaning properties of the TiO2/SiO2 composite of samples were assessed by analyzing the degradation of coffee stain under UV irradiation. The presence of anatase crystalline structure in synthesized composites was confirmed using the X-ray diffraction patterns. Fourier transform infrared study confirmed the existence of Si-O-Si and Ti–O–Si bonds in the composites. Surface modifications were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy images. The EDS spectrum of samples showed a well-defined peak for the carbon, oxygen, titanium, and silicon elements, also indicating the existence of TiO2/SiO2 on the treated silk fabrics. The samples treated with TiO2/SiO2 (70:30) composite showed the highest efficiency in coffee stain removal, followed by samples treated with TiO2/SiO2 (50:50). The laundering durability of treated sample showed the strongly interaction between the silk fabrics and the TiO2/SiO2 nanoparticles. The physical properties of treated silk fabrics were investigated. © 2017 Taylor & Francis.