Investigation of antibacterial, optic, mechanical and comfort properties of cotton fabrics threated with chitosan nano-microspheres

The aim of the thesis is to convert the chitosan biopolymer into the nano-microsphere form and to apply it to the cotton fabric, then to investigate the antimicrobial, mechanical, comfort and optical properties of the fabric. Within the scope of the thesis, chitosan biopolymer were converted into nano-microsphere form by using ionic gelation method. Fort he characterization of chitosan nano-micro spheres; FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TGA, DSC and Mastersizer analyzes was carried out. Nano-microsphere emulsions were prepared at 5 different concentrations in distilled water and the effect of concentration was investigated. As a result; it was observed that fabrics applied with chitosan nano-microsphere exhibited antibacterial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacterias and comfort properties as, hydrophilicity, water vapor permeability and air permeability values have decreased, there are no meaningful change on the mechanical properties, stiffness and tensile and tear strength. Optical analysis revealed no significant change in the color of the fabric but it was determined that the UV permeability of the fabric fell in the range of 185-400 nm wavelength and therefore showed UV protection properties.