CHITOSAN FILMS PREPARED WITH LOW NANOMETAL CONTENT FOR DEVELOPING PROTECTIVE DENIM FABRICS

At this study; Chitosan was obtained from crayfish and identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), molecular weight and elemental analyses. Later, it was coated on fabrics alone and in combination with nano-metal.The protective properties of the coated fabrics was investigated by UV protection and antibacterial analyses. Crayfish chitosan had low crystallinity (72%), low molecular weight (Mw) (11.2 kDa) and low degree of deacetylation (DD) (16%). When used together, nano-TiO2 reduced the UVprotection of the crayfish chitosan in both dyed and undyed denim fabrics.Chitosan+Nano-Ag coated fabric had the highest antibacterial activity (Antibacterial activity value (A): 4.27) against Staphylococcus aureus while chitosan+Nano-TiO2 coated fabric did not show any antibacterial efficiency (A: 1.89). Afterwashed, the chitosan coated and the chitosan+Nano-Ag coated fabrics retained their antibacterial efficiency.