Imparting protective properties to Lyocell via finishing treatments

Lyocell fabric was analysed for its protective properties against UV radiation and disease-causing microbes. Unfinished lyocell fabric afforded no protection against UV radiation and also possessed no antimicrobial activity against the two microbes investigated in this study. To improve its protective properties, lyocell was finished with a UV absorber. To enhance its antimicrobial properties, lyocell was treated with an antimicrobial agent. It was experimentally determined that an optimum UV absorber concentration of 2% of the weight of the fabric was sufficient to improve the UV properties of lyocell fabric to an excellent degree. The optimum antimicrobial concentration for excellent antimicrobial activity was found to be 0.5% of the weight of the fabric. Subsequently, lyocell fabric was finished with the optimum amount of UV absorber and antimicrobial agent in a combined multi-functional bath. The data showed that the UV protection of lyocell fabric was not negatively affected when a multi-functional bath was employed. Similarly, the antimicrobial efficiency was not reduced by multi-functional finishing treatment. Further, the finishing treatments, whether applied singly or in a multi-functional bath, were durable to laundering and to light exposure.