Self-decontaminating cotton fabrics based on photo-induced macromolecular radicals

Photoactive blend films consisting of sulfonated polyether ether ketone and polyvinyl alcohol were incorporated onto cotton fibers to prepare self-decontaminating cotton fabrics. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to confirm the free-radical nature of the photoactive film and the cotton fabric. Several physical and mechanical properties of the fabrics, such as surface morphology, tensile strength, softness, whiteness, and water vapor permeability, were investigated, and it was found that the treated cottons basically maintained the original performance. Moreover, favorable photo-induced self-decontaminating capabilities of the treated fabrics were demonstrated against three kinds of pollutants, including decomposition of 80.2 % diuron under UVA light irradiation for 3 hours, inactivation of 93.33 % of E.coli and 86.67 % of S.aureus, and degradation of 64.1 % methyl orange under the light irradiation for 1 hour.