Titania Nanoparticle Synthesis and Studies on Self Cleaning E ect in Textiles

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is an anti-microbial metal oxide, when exposed to UV light, TiO2 becomes a photo catalytic oxidizer (PCO) as well which creates hydroxyl radicals and super oxide ions which are two times stronger disinfectants than chlorine and 1.5 times stronger a disinfectant than ozone. TiO2 is safe and widely used in many household products such as toothpaste, food and teeth whitening solutions. TiO2 nano-particles were successfully synthesized via Thermal arc Plasma Process. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-Ray (EDAX), X-Ray Di raction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) have been used to charactize the nanomaterials. Anatase TiO2 nano-particles were synthesized. Then coating of TiO2 was done on cotton fabric using Ultra-sonic spray and then coated cotton fabric which possess distinct self-cleaning properties, such as bactericidal activity and photo catalytic decomposition of stains. Atonic Force Microscope (AFM) analysis is done for TiO2 coated as well as uncoated fabric samples. The photo catalytic activity of the treated fabrics was fully maintained upon several numbers of photo degradation cycles, using UV lamp as a source of UV. Nano TiO2 liquid can be applied to fabrics, curtains, carpets, woods, tiles, ceramics and glass, even metal and painted surfaces. If the surface is exposed to direct sunlight, do not apply to black or very dark colored surfaces as the oxidation process can remove some pigments from surfaces.