Structural coloration and ultraviolet protective fabrication on fabrics coated with SiO ₂ /TiO ₂ multilayer films via a magnetron sputtering method

Interference structural colors and excellent ultraviolet (UV) protection performance were prepared by coating SiO ₂ /TiO ₂ composite multilayer film on polypropylene non-woven fabrics (PP-NW) and polyester woven fabrics (PET-W) via a magnetron sputtering method. The colors on the coated structured film of “substrate/[TiO ₂ /SiO ₂ ] ^k /air” (TSk) and “substrate/[SiO ₂ /TiO ₂ ] ^k /air” (STk) (k=2, 3, 4, 5) was confirmed to be the interference structural colors. The positions and numbers of the strongest reflection peaks of the reflection-reducing type of TSk film and the reflection-enhancing type of STk film were consistent with theoretical calculations. The optical properties obtained from depositing the same STk film on PP-NW and PET-W were different. The reflectivity of the STk film was greater than the TSk film. The STk-coated samples with the PET substrate have a higher reflectivity than samples with the PP substrate because of the higher refractive index of PET. The reflection-enhancing film structure and higher refractive index substrate improved the film reflectivity. This research offered a theoretical basis and practical guidance for structural coloration and functional fabrication on fabric substrates.