The Preparation of Self-Cleaning Wool-Fiber–TiO2-Pillared Montmorillonite Composites with UV-Protection Properties

Composites of wool fibers with TiO 2 -pillared montmorillonite are obtained for the first time which possess a property of self-cleaning from substances of organic origin due to the photocatalytic effect. The materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and low-temperature adsorption–desorption of nitrogen. The self-cleaning properties are studied by way of example of model dyes, methylene blue and rhodamine B. The discoloration of colored composites reaches 95% after 24-h radiation with soft ultraviolet without sacrificing a higher breaking strength of the fibers.