Exceptional wearability of multifunctional TiO ₂ -coated hybrid silk fabric with controllable ultraviolet-protection properties

Ultraviolet (UV)-protective textiles have attracted significant attention because of their wide applicability. However, the anti-UV coatings of such textiles have an adverse effect on their wearing comfort, and other properties related to luster, softness and handle were also ignored. In this study, TiO ₂ -coated silk fabric with controllable UV-protection properties was successfully fabricated via atomic layer deposition (ALD). The luster, bending properties, crease recovery, mechanical properties, air permeability and anti-UV properties of the TiO ₂ -coated silk fabric were investigated. The results showed that the thickness, whiteness, bendability, tensile strength and anti-UV properties of the silk fabric increased progressively while its air permeability, wet crease recovery angle and dry crease recovery angle decreased with an increase in the thickness of the TiO ₂ coating. However, the coating did not have a negative effect on the usability of the fabric. Thus, the proposed ALD method is a promising one for modifying the surfaces of elastic textile materials in order to accord them with UV-protection properties.