Application of textile waste derived biochars onto cotton fabric for improved performance and functional properties

This study investigated the use of textile waste based biochars as fabric additives to improve the clothing performance and impart functional properties to textile materials. For this purpose, cotton, cotton/ polyester and acrylic textile wastes were carbonized at low temperature and derived biochars were applied onto cotton fabrics by conventional printing method Moisture transfer, drying properties, water vapor and air permeability and odor adsorption capability of biochar printed fabrics were investigated by using of several methods. Biochar finishing provided a slight hydrophobic effect on the printed face of the cotton fabrics; therefore, a double-face textile structure could be obtained in terms of hydrophilic/ hydrophobic behavior. With this feature, it was revealed that the addition of biochars improved the moisture transfer, accelerated the drying and increased the water vapor permeability. In addition, the obtained data showed that cotton/polyester fabric derived biochar printed fabrics had odor masking properties. As a result, it was shown that odor masking functional textile materials with high thermo-physiological comfort can be produced by the recycling of textile wastes into biochar and application onto textile fabrics. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.