Indra’s Drishtikona (Viewpoint)

Housewives worry gone with ‘Self-cleaning’ clothes

Posted : November 30, 2004 at 5:03 pm [IST]

Technology will change the way we live. It will provide ease and ensure hygiene. It is this type of innovation that will make impact on quality of life. We needn’t bother about what will happen to washer men at the street corners in Noida or Salt Lake.

“Dirt adheres to the fibers of most fabrics. To clean the fabrics, people typically put them in the washer or send them to the dry cleaners. Researchers at Clemson University are developing a highly water-repellant coating made of silver nanoparticles that can be used to produce suits and other clothing items that offer superior resistance to dirt as well as water and require much less cleaning than conventional fabrics. The patented coating — a polymer film (polyglycidyl methacrylate) mixed with silver nanoparticles — can be permanently integrated into any common fabric, including silk, polyester and cotton. In the long run, it can save time and money by reducing expensive dry cleaning bills. It is also environmentally friendly.

The coating doesn’t actually clean itself, but it does resist dirt much better than other fabric treatments. The concept is based on the lotus plant, whose leaves are well-known for their ability to ’self-clean’ by repelling water and dirt. Likewise, when water is exposed to the treated fabric, the dirt will be carried away more easily. You will still need some water to rinse away dirt and stains, but cleaning will be quicker and less frequent. Unlike conventional water-repellant coatings, the new coating is permanently bonded onto the fibers of the fabric and will not wash off.
In addition, no fluorine-based chemical finishes are used so there are potential environmental advantages. The research team is also trying to engineer antimicrobial particles into the coating, which could help repel strong odors such as body odor and even cigarette smoke.

Suits made with the new coating could simply be sprayed clean or wiped with a damp cloth to remove the dirt. If desired, the fabric can still be cleaned by conventional means, including washing as well as dry cleaning, without harming the coating. In addition to suits, the new coating could be applied to hospital garments, sportswear, military uniforms and rain coats.

Prices of clothing and other products treated with the new coating will initially be a bit more expensive than other water-repellant garments. Research associates are currently working on ways to make the coating cheaper. Self-cleaning fabrics can be made in any colour, since the treatment is applied after the fabric has been dyed.”

- Indra

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