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Easy-clean clothes!

19 March 2008

In a recent laboratory study, wool modified and treated with a new nanoparticle coating removed red wine stains effectively (bottom row), prsitine wool treated with nanoparticle coating (middle row) and pristine wool (top row). Courtesy of the American Chemical Society.

In a few years from now, we may be able to abandon those expensive trips to the dry cleaners to clean our clothes.

Monash scientist Dr Walid Daoud has discovered a way to remove stains using sunlight!

The nano-materials expert has developed a nanoparticle coating that can be applied to wool and silk fibres to decompose contaminations such as such as dirt, stains, and harmful microorganisms.

The coating is composed of anatase titanium dioxide, an efficient photocatalyst. Light triggers an oxidation reaction that decomposes dirt and bacteria but cannot decompose wool or skin.

Dr Daoud says he has previously developed coatings for cotton fibres, but wool and silk are more complex, particularly when it comes to chemical modification.

"We have essentially taken early research into cotton to the next level and this new coating has proven to be very effective in preventing stains, particularly difficult stains like red wine."

"The testing is still in the laboratory phase, but it is very possible this type of coating could be applied to fabrics in the future. Cleaning a garment would be as easy as hanging it in direct sunlight and the stains would disappear," Dr Daoud said.

In the new study, Dr Daoud and colleagues prepared wool fabrics with and without a nanoparticle coating. The researchers then stained the fabric samples with red wine.

"After 20 hours of exposure to simulated sunlight, the coated fabric showed almost no signs of the red stain, whereas the untreated fabric remained deeply stained. The coating, which is non-toxic, can be permanently bonded to the fibre and does not alter its texture and feel," Dr Daoud said.

To access the full article visit the ACS Publications website.