In situ synthesis and hydrothermal crystallization of nanoanatase TiO 2 –SiO 2 coating on aramid fabric ( HTiSiAF ) for UV protection

TiO 2 –SiO 2 thin film was prepared by sol‐gel method and coated on the aramid fabric to prepare functional textiles. The aramid fabric was dipped and withdrawn in TiO 2 –SiO 2 gel and hydrothermal crystallization at 80 ° C, then its UV protection functionality was evaluated. The crystalline phase and the surface morphology of TiO 2 –SiO 2 thin film were characterized using SEM, XRD, and AFM respectively. SEM showed hydrothermal crystallization led to a homogeneous dispersion of anatase nonocrystal in TiO 2 –SiO 2 film, and XRD suggested the mean particle size of the formed anatase TiO 2 was less than 30 nm. AFM indicated that hydrothermal treatment enhanced the crystallization of TiO 2 . UV protection analysis suggested that the hydrothermally treated coated textile had a better screening property in comparison with TiO 2 –SiO 2 gel and native aramid fabric. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:918–925, 2015 . © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.