The Use of Copper Ions and Tannic Acid to Enhance the UV Protection of Cotton Fabrics
Yankun Yin, Zhiyu Huang, Pei Wang, Zongmin Zhu, Jing Xu, Shaohua Chen, Hua Wang
Abstract
An ultraviolet (UV)-protective cotton fabric has been developed by combining tannic acid and copper ions (TA-Cu) on cotton fabrics. The structure and properties of TA-Cu and cotton fabrics finished with TA-Cu were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The UV resistance and laundering durability of modified cotton fabrics were measured. The cotton fabric finished with tannic acid showed a maximum UV-protection factor value of 44.5, which was further improved by chelation with copper ions. The cotton fabric finished by the TA-Cu exhibits a UV-protection factor value of up to 172.1 and a UV transmittance of less than 1.5% when the concentration of tannic acid and copper ions was 0.1 mmol/L. The as-prepared cotton fabrics retained their UV resistance after laundering. This study proposes an eco-friendly anti-UV treatment for cotton fabrics and a novel application for tannic acid and copper ions to imbue fabrics with UV protection.