Assessment of functionality and durability of Silanol-ZnO modified wool fabric in the realm of textile applications

This study investigates the multifunctionality and durability of in-situ synthesized ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on wool fabric, using wool fibres as a reducing agent, along with selected capping agents and a silane coupling agent. The treated fabrics were evaluated for antibacterial activity, hydrophobicity, flame retardancy, UV protection, and wash durability. All treated samples showed more than 99% antibacterial reduction against both S. aureus and K. pneumoniae. Hydrophobicity increased substantially, with water contact angles rising from approximately 98° (control) to around 163°, and Sample B showing the highest value of 163°, attributed to the morphological properties of the NPs. UV protection also improved, with UPF increasing from 47.9 (control) to between 57.9 and 369.1 across the treated samples. Flame retardant performance was enhanced, resulting in a 28–65% longer time-to-ignition and a 66–84% reduction in char length, reflecting the heat-dissipating effect of the NPs. Durability tests showed that after 25 laundering cycles, the treated fabrics retained their original antibacterial efficacy, maintained water contact angles around 118°, preserved UPF values of 50.4, and continued to exhibit enhanced flame-retardant behaviour. These findings demonstrate that a durable multifunctional finish—combining antibacterial, flame-retardant, hydrophobic, and UV-protective properties—can be achieved on wool fabrics using the proposed in-situ ZnO NP synthesis approach.