Comparison of Innovative Silver Nanoparticles Finishing Technologies to Obtain Antibacterial Properties of Cotton Fabric

The article presents a comparison of innovative technologies of producing silver nanoparticles directly on fibrous structures using digital printing and screen printing. The research was focused on the antibacterial modification of cotton fabric using an in-situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Moreover, for the first time, the evaluation of two techniques of modification, taking into account the antibacterial effect and the consumption of chemicals, water, and energy in both processes were presented. Silver nanoparticles were prepared by direct reduction of the paste/ink containing silver salt on the fibres using screen and ink-jet printing techniques. The deposition of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, Raman dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The durability of the antibacterial effect against washing was estimated by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Both printing techniques allow obtaining cotton fabric with long-lasting antibacterial properties (50 items of washing) against strains of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. However, the digital printing method is more environmentally friendly due to lower water and energy usage and four times lower silver concentration in fabric compared to the conventional, screen-printing method.