The effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on color of cotton fabric dyed with reactive dye

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the effect of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle coating on the visible reflectance and color appearance of dyed cotton fabrics. Design/methodology/approach A Taguchi experimental design model was used to minimize the number of samples and for accurate prediction of possible responses. The governing parameters affecting the color change of dyed fabrics through the coating process were selected as shade of cotton fabrics, depth of shade, concentration and size of TiO2 nanoparticles and concentration of citric acid. The Taguchi model suggests the L18 orthogonal array. In the meantime, the lower response category was selected to determine the optimum conditions. According to obtained results, coating with TiO2 nanoparticles results in color change (Eab*) of all dyed cotton fabrics. Findings The obtained results indicate that the TiO2-coated fabrics had higher reflectance compared to raw fabrics. Furthermore, it was found that the TiO2 pigmented coating increases the brightness of samples and simultaneously decreases their chroma. On the other hand, analysis of variance reveals that the concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles together with shade of fabrics has the most significant impact on the color change of dyed fabrics through coating process. Dye concentration and size of TiO2 particles also, to the same extent, had influence over the color change. However, the effect of the concentration of citric acid on the color change was insignificant. Originality/value This research investigates the effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on the optical property of colored fabric by using a Taguchi experimental design model to minimize the number of samples.