NOVOSIBIRSK, December 27Scientists at Novosibirsk State University (NSU) have learned to create fabrics with photoactive impregnation, which destroys organic substances and microorganisms under the influence of light; they already have an industrial partner, the university reported on Wednesday.
“”NSU scientists have patented a composition for creating a photoactive coating on the surface of fabric materials by impregnation with a special composition. Such a coating allows you to destroy chemicals, as well as macromolecules, including DNA and RNA, and inactivate viruses and bacteria that get on the surface of the fabric” , – the message says.
The university noted that such fabric can be used to sew work clothes for medical workers, laboratory employees or food production workers. Self-cleaning fabrics will have higher durability and functionality in humid, warm climates, since they are less susceptible to dampness, harmful fungi and bacteria.
“When processing fabrics, a special catalyst based on titanium dioxide is used. When exposed to light, active oxidizing particles are formed on its surface, and any organic substances, when interacting with them, decompose to carbon dioxide and water, and microorganisms and viruses are inactivated. Thus, the fabric self-cleanses,” – said Denis Kozlov, director of the Scientific and Educational Center of the Institute of Chemical Technologies (INHIT) of NSU.
He explained that previously such photocatalysts were activated by ultraviolet radiation and were inactive in visible light, however, senior researcher at the Center Dmitry Selishchev, as part of his doctoral dissertation, developed compositions capable of acting in visible light, even under fluorescent lamps indoors and under exposure to the sun is as effective as exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
NSU noted that a Moscow enterprise, the Aerolife plant, has already become interested in the development. They see the production of self-cleaning fabrics as promising, because the impregnating composition with a photocatalyst is applied to the fabric evenly and in optimal concentration, and the technology of sewing clothes from self-cleaning fabric is simpler and cheaper than sewing and subsequent processing of the finished product. In addition, fabrics treated with impregnation can be washed, their properties will not change.
“Now that the possibility of reusing self-cleaning fabrics has been confirmed, we and our industrial partner have begun the preparatory stage of introducing our development into production. Production technology is being improved, material processing modes are being developed, and a list of equipment that needs to be purchased is being formed. We have no doubt that that our development will be in demand on the market,” added Kozlov.
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