Cotton fabric finishing with TiO₂/SiO₂ composite hydrosol based on ionic cross-linking method

Highlights: • We studied the cotton finishing with TiO₂/SiO₂ based on ionic cross-linking method. • The samples treated with CHTAC had lower value of whiteness. • The samples treated with BTCA achieved higher crease recovery angle and lower tensile strength. • The ionic cross-linking treatment (CHTAC + BTCA + TiO₂/SiO₂) was better than with TiO₂/SiO₂ sol alone. - Abstract: Cotton fabric was successfully modified by 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CHTAC), 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) and TiO₂/SiO₂ sol. Self-cleaning characteristic was investigated using a Color Measuring and Matching System with 6 h sunlight irradiation. And the stability of TiO₂/SiO₂ coatings was explored by measuring the washing fastness and wrinkle resistance of treated cotton samples. In addition, whiteness index, crease recovery angle and tensile strength retention (%) of treated samples were evaluated. Moreover, the morphology, structure change and crystallinity of samples were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The results revealed that the samples treated with CHTAC had lower value of whiteness index as compared with original cotton fabric. It was also found that samples treated with BTCA achieved higher crease recovery angle and lower tensile strength. Moreover, the treatment of CHTAC and BTCA had adverse effect on the crystallinity of cotton samples, as treated samples had lower crystallinity in comparison with raw cotton fabrics. Nevertheless, the stability of self-cleaning coatings was better for samples treated with ionic cross-linking treatment (CHTAC + BTCA + TiO₂/SiO₂) than samples treated with TiO₂/SiO₂ sol alone. Furthermore, compared with original samples the UV-blocking property of ionic cross-linking treated samples was obviously enhanced