An Approach for Multifunctional Finishing of Cotton with the Help of Nano Titanium Silicon Oxide

Nowadays, multifunctional finishing processes become important in the textile industry. This approach generally ensures less chemical and energy consumptions with less process durations. In this study, it was planned to produce water repellent and antibacterial cotton fabrics by using a single-stepped finishing process. To ensure water repellency and antibacterial efficiency, cotton fabrics were impregnated with a solution containing both nano titanium silicon oxide and fluorocarbon-based water repellent in different concentrations. After finishing cotton fabrics with so-called solution the samples were then tested in terms of water repellency and antibacterial efficiency. In addition, to see the changes in whiteness during processes, the whiteness (stensby) values of the treated cotton fabrics were measured too. In terms of testing antibacterial efficiency two different types of bacteria; a Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and a Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, were used. As a result of the study, it was observed that cotton fabrics can gain water repellency and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus has occurred. Meanwhile a limited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli was found too.