The influence of corona treatment and impregnation with colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles on biodegradability of cotton fabric

This study discusses the effect of corona pre-treatment at atmospheric pressure and subsequent loading of colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles on the biodegradation behavior of cotton fabric. Biodegradation performance of the control and finished samples was evaluated by standard soil burial tests in predetermined periods of 3, 9 and 18 days. Color and breaking strength measurements were utilized for assessment of biodegradation progress. Morphological and chemical changes induced by biodegradation were analysed by SEM and FT-IR analyses, respectively. Colorimetric, morphological and chemical changes induced by the biodegradation process were slightly less prominent on corona pre-treated cotton fabric impregnated with TiO2 nanoparticles compared to corona treated and control cotton fabric. Although the breaking strength of all samples significantly decreased after 18 days of soil burial, this decline was the least evident on the sample impregnated with TiO2 nanoparticles. However, taking into account the extent of these differences, the influence of TiO2 nanoparticles on biodegradation rate of cotton fabric, which underwent a combined treatment corona/impregnation with TiO2 nanoparticles, could be considered as insignificant. These results confirm that chemical modification of cotton fabrics with plasma and subsequent loading of TiO2 still maintained sustainability of cellulose fibres.