Recent Observations on Preparation of Novel Chitosan-Starch Blends as a Multi-function Thickening Agent and Their Application in Textile Printing

Chitosan, a naturally available biopolymer which is now increasingly used as a functional finish on
textile substrates to impart antimicrobial characteristics and increase1 dye uptake of fabrics, was
blended with different ratios of gelatinized starch. e chitosan was extracted and characterized by IR,
H-NMR, and X-ray powder direction. These blends were tested as thickeners in textile screen printing
using Curcuma tinctoria as natural dye. e rheological properties and the viscosity of the printing paste
were measured. The effect of chitosan on the printing properties of different fabrics (natural, blends,
and synthetic fabrics) was studied by measuring the color strength value (K/S) and related color
parameters of the printed fabrics. e antimicrobial properties of printed fabrics were assessed. The
results proved that the printed fabrics using these new thickeners showed increase in the color
strength value (K/S) giving darker color which means that chitosan increased the dye uptake on
fabrics. Fastness properties of the printed fabrics to washiftng, rubbing, perspiration, and light have
also been improved. Thee treated fabrics were found to be antimicrobial also these blends used as a
multi-functional thickener via adding of chitosan to gelatinous starch that it act as antibacterial agent,
binder, and improve the pigment printing properties of different fabrics.