Facile route for synthesis of flame retardant, antibacterial and conductive fabrics

Textile-based materials constitute the majority of market products; however, their uses are limited in some applications due to their low thermal stability and high flammability hazards. Therefore, in this study, we developed a conductive cotton textile fabric based on a green fabrication method using different composites of three different dimensional nanomaterials: cellulose nanocrystals, graphene, and polyaniline. The developed smart-coated cotton samples showed good flame-retardant behavior, good antibacterial properties , promising ultraviolet protection and improving thermal stability. The treated cotton fabric achieved the highest flame retardancy recording a zero burning rate compared to 115 mm/min for blank cotton fabric. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of the treated fabric was significantly improved, achieving a clear inhibition zone of 35 mm compared to zero for untreated cotton. Furthermore, the developed coated textile material records high electrical conductivity. This study affords green guidance for the design and fabrication of green multifunctional coatings useful for various avenues and applications.