Abstract: For the functional finishing of cotton fabrics, this paper presents a method of fabricating ZnO nanoparticles and depositing them on cotton fabric based on the interaction between HBP-NH₂ and Zn(NO₃)₂ in aqueous solution. The mechanism was discussed in detail. The antibacterial activity and UV protective property of treated cotton fabrics were measured. The treated cotton fabrics were characterized. The results indicated that HBP-NH₂ contributed to the preparation and performance improvement of ZnO. The treated cotton fabric showed excellent UV protective properties and a certain antibacterial activity. The UPF values and bacterial reduction rates enhanced with the increasing of ZnO content in cotton fabrics.

Key words: hyperbranched polymer; ZnO nanoparticle; cotton fabric; UV protection; antibacterial activity