EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE MODIFICATION OF COTTON FABRIC WITH CROSSLINKED CHITOSAN

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the properties of the cotton fabric coated with a layer of chitosan crosslinked with citric acid at room temperature or after thermal treatment (at 80^oC for 180 min). The applied conditions assume the formation of ionic bonds between the coating components in the first case and their covalent interactions in the second case. Various analyses have been used to confirm this statement. The quantity of the obtained coating on the fabric and the colour characteristics of the materials was characterised with gravimetric and colorimetric analysis. The changes in the bands of functional groups in FT-IR analysis and thermal behaviour of modified fabrics compared to pristine cotton fabric were studied. The surface morphology was investigated using the contact angle measurement. It was found that after thermal treatment, the fabric surface hydrophobicity increases, and the antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive Bacillus cereus strains also increases.