Chemical Modification of Cotton Fabric Using Chitosan and Hydrolyzed Silk Fibroin

Abstract

A cotton fabric modified with chitosan (CS) and hydrolyzed fibroin (HF) was prepared by using glyoxal as crosslinker. Fixation of CS and HF on cotton fabric was confirmed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and color depth (K/S) of finished fabrics which was dyed with acid dye. %Water absorption, tensile strength as well as %elongation and crease recovery angle were evaluated. Results of SEM micrograph and FTIR spectra clearly confirmed fixation of CS and HF on cotton fabric surface by using glyoxal as crosslinker. %Water absorption and %elongation of the finished fabrics increased with increased concentration of HF in finishing solution. However, decreases in tensile strength and % crease recovery were observed when increased concentration of HF was used. This work demonstrated that the surface properties of cotton fabrics was changed by HF modification, fixation of CS and HF placed onto cotton fabric changed the fabric surface properties, which facilitated more uptake of chemicals such as water and anionic acid dye. The cotton fabrics finished with hydrolyzed fibroin exhibited antibacterial activity against the growth of S.aureus and E.coli which facilitated the finished cotton fabric as  a functional materials, for example in a medical application.