Antimicrobial, UV Resistant and Thermal Comfort Properties of Chitosan- and Aloe vera-Modified Cotton Woven Fabric

Health and hygiene are the primary obligations for human beings to live comfortably and work with maximum safety. The aim of the present work is to develop environmentally friendly protective textiles. Aloe vera extract and chitosan on bleached cotton woven fabrics for medical and health care apparel. The modified fabric was tested for its resistance to the growth of gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The A. vera extract and chitosan were applied, alone or together, on cotton samples by the pad-dry-cure method, using critic acid as the cross-linking agent. The applications of 2 g/l chitosan and 2 g/l A. vera combinations on cotton fabric showed excellent antimicrobial resistance against gram-positive S. aureus bacteria. Bacteria were reduced by 81%, which was greater than the 6 g/l individually-treated result. After treatment, the tensile strength and whiteness index were tested. Thickness and crease recovery angle were increased. Soil degradation tests proved the bio-compatibility of the treated sample. The incorporation of chitosan and A. vera on the surface of the cotton fabric was investigated by FTIR, XRD and thermal analysis. The surface morphology of treated and untreated fabrics was evaluated using high resolution scanning electron microscopy. Air permeability, water vapour permeability and thermal conductivity indicate thermal comfort that was not significantly affected by finishing treatment. Finished cotton fabric also showed a significant improvement in UV-protection.