NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATION ON COTTON FIBERS, YARN AND FABRIC AND ITS IMPACT ON THEIR QUALITIES AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE

Antimicrobial effect is derived from nanosilver particles (diameter between 1 and 100 nm) which are adhered to the fibers. The cotton materials showed antimicrobial effects by killing and/or suppressing growth of a broad spectrum of microbes such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aurues bacteria and Aspergillus nigera fungi depending on the surface structure of the cotton sample. The present investigation was carried out using the cotton variety Giza 86 ,to study the effect of nano-silver application on the cotton quality and antimicrobial resistance from raw to fabric. The results indicated that nano-silver application did not affect fiber ribbon width, single fiber linear density and fiber length parameters. While, nano-silver application increased micronaire reading, both of single fiber and bundle strength, yarn mechanical properties and fabric strength. In contrast, it decreased fiber reversals number, convolution number, convolution angle, both of single fiber and bundle elongation, fabric moisture regain and fabric air permeability. The effect of the nano application was reflected positively on the zones of growth inhibition of yarn cotton followed by fabric then raw cotton. Escherichia coli gave the highest diameter of the inhibition zone. On the contrary, Staphylococcus aurues gave the lowest zone.