Full ultraviolet shielding potency of highly durable cotton via self- implantation of palladium nanoclusters

Unique technique is currently demonstrated for preparation of ultraviolet protective cotton fabrics with full shielding effect, via self-implantation of palladium (Pd) nanoclusters. Palladium nanoclusters were in-situ immobilized within native and cationized cotton using two different concentrations of palladium precursor (20 and 60 mM) under strong acidic (pH 2) and basic (pH 11.5) media. Cationization (50 and 100%) of cotton fabrics was performed in order to increase the accessibility of fabric for controllable implantation of palladium nanoclusters. Size distribution of palladium nanoclusters in supernatant solution was estimated via Transmission electron microscopy to be 3.2 nm. The estimated data showed that the sample prepared with the highest cationization percent and highest concentration of palladium precursor in strong alkaline medium exhibited the highest yellowness index, color strength and excellent ultraviolet shielding effects. The yellowness index was significantly increased from 15.67 for cationized cotton to 74.99 for the sample prepared with the highest cationization percent and highest concentration of Pd+2 in alkaline medium (Pd-CC (100)4). Tensile strength was insignificantly decreased from 93.2 MPa for cationized cotton to 84.5 MPa for Pd-CC (100)4. Ultraviolet shielding effect was superiorly enhanced with implantation of palladium nanoclusters. The UV protection factor (UPF) was excellency increased from 1.3 (insufficient) for native cotton to 256.6 (excellent) for Pd-CC (100)4. The effect of repetitive washing cycles on the colorimetric data and the results of ultraviolet protection was also studied to affirm the effect of fabric cationization in preparation of highly durable UV-protective fabrics. [GRAPHICS] .