Patterned Printing of Fragrant Microcapsules to Cotton Fabric

Microcapsules with fragrance in the core were used to produce a scented textile. The wall of microcapsules was based on a melamine-formaldehyde polymer while an essential oil was in the core. They were applied to cotton fabric using screen printing in two ways: over the entire surface and by pattern. The properties of the differently printed samples were analyzed. The fragrance evaluation was performed, mechanical properties were studied, antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherihia coli was evaluated, and resistance of the samples to soil microorganisms was determined. The amount of formaldehyde on the samples was measured. The results showed that all samples kept the fragrance even after 10 washes. The mechanical properties of the fully printed fabric were different from the properties of the patterned fabric. None of the prints of scented microcapsules provided antibacterial activity. All samples were biodegradable. Less formaldehyde was measured on patterned samples than on fully printed samples. The amount decreased after washing.