Evaluation of Fabric Hand Value of Green-hybrid Nanocoated Organic Cotton Fabric Using the Kawabata Evaluation System

Abstract

This study evaluated the fabric hand value and selected performance characteristics of green-hybrid nanocoated organic cotton fabric using the Kawabata Evaluation System. Organic cotton fabric was treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles green-synthesised from Azadirachta indica and Aloe vera leaf extracts and incorporated into a chitosan coating. Nanoparticle formation and surface deposition were assessed using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The ultraviolet-visible spectrum showed an absorption peak at 360 nm, while dynamic light scattering indicated an average particle size of 37 nm and a zeta potential of −22.3 mV. The treated fabric exhibited an initial water contact angle of 149°, which decreased to 132° after 20 wash cycles, indicating retained hydrophobic behaviour. Low-stress mechanical evaluation showed increases in tensile linearity, tensile resilience, tensile energy, compression resilience, smoothness, and fullness, together with reductions in elongation, bending rigidity, bending hysteresis, surface friction, and surface roughness. The total hand value increased from 2.80 for the untreated fabric to 3.28 for the nanocoated fabric. Air permeability decreased from 350 to 320 cm³/cm²/s on the face and from 344 to 315 cm³/cm²/s on the back. These findings indicate that the ZnO–chitosan nanocoating modified the tactile and hydrophobic properties of organic cotton while retaining measurable breathability under the tested conditions.