Self-assembly silver nano particles monolayer on wool fabrics through polyelectrolyte complexation and study its finishing properties

A stable silver nano particles (Ag NPs) colloidal solution was synthesized chemically via the reduction of silver nitrate using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent and sodium citrate as a stabilizer. Thus obtained Ag NPS were characterized by UV-vis spectra for the estimation of Ag NPS formation and TEM for determination of size and shape .These Ag NPs have been applied to the modified wool fabric by two polyelectrolytes, Poly (sodium -4-styrene, sulphonate (PSS) and Polyethylenimine (PEI) for particle monolayers deposition via colloid self-assembly. The modified wool fabrics treated with Ag NPs were evaluated by UV-vis spectra, SEM and EDX, tensile strength (TS) and contact angle measurement in addition to a bioassay of antibacterial activity. The dyeing behavior of the modified wool fabrics treated with Ag NPs and dyed with anionic and cationic dyes has been also studied as colorimetric data and fastness properties. The results indicate that the size of the stable Ag NPs in the colloidal solution was in range of 7.43-13.40 nm and the modified wool fabrics treated with Ag NPs before dyeing not only improve the TS, but also the antimicrobial efficiency of the fabric against B.subtilis, S.aureus and E.Coli. Further, the modified fabrics treated with Ag NPs and dyed with anionic dyes show very good colorimetric data and fastness properties. Moreover, the advanced wool fabrics treated with Ag NPs exhibit a great potential toward the functional properties of wool for textiles, health and medical application.