Nanocrystalline TiO₂ Coated-Fabric for UV Shielding and Anti-Bacterial Functions

Due to excellent photocatalytic and optical properties of titanium dioxide (TiO2), it has been applied in several products such as food packaging plastics, materials for vehicles or for buildings and sunscreen-protecting cosmetics. In this present work, the synthesized as well as commercial TiO2 was coated onto a household curtain fabric for anti-microbial and ultraviolet (UV) shielding functions. The coating was performed by inducing the deposition of TiO2 layer from the Ti precursor onto the fabric surface pre-treated with silane adhesive agent so as to improve the adhesion. Ag nanoparticles were also incorporated in some samples to further improve the antibacterial function. Anti-bacterial activities of the coated fabric were evaluated by standard qualitative test (the Kirby-Bauer test (AATCC 147)). Efficiency for UV shielding was evaluated by measuring a UV-Vis reflection of the coated fabrics both before and after subjecting to several washing cycles. The result showed that the TiO2-coated fabrics developed had potential as antibacterial and UV shielding for the curtain industry.