Hydrophobicity of cotton fabric treated with plant extract, TiO2 nanoparticles and beeswax

Hydrophobic properties have been seen in nature since the beginning of time. When we talk about hydrophobicity, what comes to mind is “surface or material that repels water. Mostly, these structures are used in a variety of places, like water repellent fabrics, water repellent finishes, etc., by that, the water would not be absorbed. Lotus leaves (Nelumbo nucifera), sea-skater bodies (Halobates germanus), springtail cuticles (Collembola), taro root (Colocasia esculenta) and a variety of desert flora and insects are just a few examples. Colocasia esculenta (taro) leaves are covered with a layer of bio-wax that is highly hydrophobic. Cotton fabric is very essential in human daily life usage like: packaging, home décor, textiles etc. During usage it is exposed to dust, moisture, and other toxic agents in environment. Hydrophobicity of the cotton fabric may reduce the contact of dirt, moisture, and other unwanted impurities over its surface which may be helpful in enhancing the life of the cotton-based consumer products. In present study, an attempt has been made to provide a hydrophobic coating to cotton fabric using taro-root leaves extract. The TiO2 nanoparticles and beeswax were added to the leaf extract to endow hydrophobicity. The hydrophobicity of the resulting fabric was characterized by contact angle measurement and it was found to be ∼128°. The inclusion of beeswax and TiO2 nanoparticles brought about a significant increase in the hydrophobicity of the fabric which in turn can be used for the development of hydrophobic and antibacterial textiles in the near future. © 2023