UV Protection and Antibacterial Treatment of Wool using Green Silver Nanoparticles

Herein, we attempted a new green based silver nanoparticles employing sodium alginate (Na-Alg) as reducing agent to functionalize wool fabric surface. This research aims to enhance the antimicrobial activity and UV resistance of wool fabrics treated with synthesized silver nanoparticles. The resulting products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and UV-visible absorbance. The results specified that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully assembled on wool surface when liquor pH and temperature of application medium were adjusted to 4 and 40 ºC, respectively for 2 h. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the combined finishing of wool fabric with AgNPs could improve its thermal property. It was observed that the presence of green based AgNPs significantly enhanced the UV resistance and antibacterial activity of fabrics particularly for samples coated with 70 ppm AgNPs. These promising results support that the present approach is useful for the fabrication of antimicrobial and UV protector fabrics.