Facile development of electrically conductive comfortable fabrics using metal ions

Development of conductive fabrics causes usually deterioration of the some of the comfort attributes of the final textile product. In this work, we propose a simple non-deteriorative method for preparation of electrical conductive fabrics based on wool and polyester as well as the blended fabric thereof. The unmodified fabrics or saponified polyester or oxidized wool were treated in aqueous solution containing heavy metal ion salts, namely, silver nitrate, copper II sulfate using exhaustion technique at 70°C for 1 h followed by reduction step. Nano zinc oxide was also used directly for treatment on the said fabrics. The electrical conductivity of the metal ions-treated fabrics and the influence of sewing on their conductivity was measured. The effect of pretreatment of the fabrics, saponification of polyester or oxidation of wool on their ability to absorb metal ions was monitored. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to prove the incorporation of metal particles onto the treated fabrics. The change in chemical composition of the treated fabrics was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Atomic absorption was adopted to measure the amount of metal incorporated onto the treated fabrics. The formation of nanometal crystals was proved using X-ray diffraction pattern. Different parameters of comfort, namely, air/water permeability of the treated as well as untreated fabrics were assessed. The treated fabrics exhibit enhanced electrical conductivity as well as some improved comfort properties without any effect on their inherent mechanical properties.