513 ISSN 1229-9197 (print version) ISSN 1875-0052 (electronic version) Fibers and Polymers 2020, Vol.21, No.3, 513-521 Multipurpose Treatment of Cellulose-Containing Fabrics to Impart Durable Antibacterial and Repellent Properties Nabil A. Ibrahim * , Ahmed Amr, and Basma M. Eid Textile Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt (Received March 1, 2019; Revised July 14, 2019; Accepted August 24, 2019) Abstract: Development of multifunctional cellulose-containing fabrics has been highly demanded both by the textile finisher and the textile consumer. Herein, proper finishing formulations comprise the following ingredients individually and in combination: a reactant crosslinker (Fixapret ECO), hydrolysed 3-glycidyl-oxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS), as a co- crosslinker and fixing agent, a flurochemical water/oil repellent agent (Asahi Guard AG-925), silver nanoparticles dispersion (AgNPs), as antibacterial agent along with metal salt catalyst, especially AlCl , were applied to various cellulose containing fabrics, using a pad-coating impregnation method, to add new multifunctional properties like anti-crease, water/oil repellent, antibacterial functionality as well as thermal stability. The degree of improvement in the imparted functions is governed by type of substrate, extent of modification and/or crosslinking, amount/location/distribution as well as fixation of the added active ingredients. Also, the obtained results clearly demonstrated that the created multifunctional properties are not seriously decreased even after 15 washing cycles. Various characterization techniques were used, and the possible interactions among the nominated components and the treated substrates were also suggested. Keywords: Cellulose-containing fabrics, Functional additives, One-step process, Coating, Durable antibacterial and repellent properties Introduction Recently, the demands of high performance, durable, functional, comfortable and eco-friendly textile products to textile user and for the environment have continuously increased [1-3]. Therefore more research and development activities that can develop environmentally benign active ingredients and finishing formulations as well as applications techniques to replace the conventional ones are still desired [4-7]. The co-application of proper finishing chemicals and emerging technologies such as nano-, bio-, and plasma alone and in combination offer unlimited options for obtaining multifunctional textile products with high value added, more competitive edge and minimum environmental negative impacts [8-14]. Among multifunctional finish options, imparting: antibacterial activity/water repellency [15-17], antimicrobial activity/UV-potential functionality [18-22], water-oil repllency/ flame retardency [23], antimicrobial/UV-blocking/water- oil repellency [1,14,24], antibacterial activity/UV-blocking/ soft-hand functionalities [4,25], easy care/flame retardency/ antibacterial activity properties [1,26]…etc. to the finished textile materials, have been found to be very desirable for medical, protective, active wear and other numerous potential applications [9,27]. Moreover, multifunctionalization of cellulose-containing fabrics is still not fully investigated, and so more research and development efforts continue. In this article a novel facile approach was developed for simultaneous multifunctionalization of cellulose-containing fabrics taking in consideration the product quality, economy and environmental concerns as well as to produce durable functional textiles with vast potential applications. We also discussed the mode of interactions among various finishing ingredients and the treated substrates which could consequently lead to the durability of the imparted functional properties namely easy care/antibacterial efficacy/water-oil repellency and thermal stability. Experimental Materials In this study, mill-scoured and bleached plain weave cotton cellulose (120 g/m 2 ), linen (120 g/m 2 ), viscose cellulose (110 g/m 2 ) and cotton/polyester (50/50, 160 g/m 2 ) fabrics were used. 3-Glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane GPTMS (98 %, Aldrich, USA), Asahi Guard ® AG-925 (Fluorochemical water/oil repellent agent, weakly cationic, Asahi Glass Co., Japan) and Fixapret ® ECO (low formaldehyde reactant resin based on dimethylol dihydroxyethylene urea DMDHEU, BASF, Germany) were used in functionalization of the nominated cellulose containing substrates. Different catalysts namely magnesium chloride hexahedrate (MgCl 2 ·6H 2 O) aluminum chloride (AlCl 3 ), Zinc chloride (ZnCl 2 ), and ammonium chloride (NH 4 Cl) were of laboratory grade chemicals. Silver nitrate (AgNO 3 Sigma- Aldrich) and carboxymethyl cellulose [(CMC, Mw 4000 KDa), Ds 1.2, Prololab, France) were used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs). Methods Preparation of GPTMS-sol GPTMS sol was prepared by mixing GPTMS (10 ml) with isopropanol/water (20/80 ml) and stirred at 25 o C for 20 min *Corresponding author: nabibrahim49@yahoo.co.uk DOI 10.1007/s12221-020-9221-4