Dyeing and Performance Testing of Chitosan-Modified Cotton Fabrics with Tea Polyphenols

Abstract Tea polyphenols are one of the primary components of tea leaves and possess various beneficial effects, including radiation resistance, detoxification, antioxidation, antibacterial properties, anti-aging effects, digestive support, anti-cancer properties, and immune system enhancement. This study focuses on utilizing tea polyphenols for the functional finishing of chitosan-modified cotton fabrics, with the aim of developing an environmentally friendly and efficient green functional finishing process. The analysis reveals that the optimal dyeing parameters for cotton fabrics modified with chitosan and using a mass fraction concentration of 3% tea polyphenols are as follows: a pH value of 7, temperature of 50°C, dyeing time of 60 minutes, and a tea polyphenol o.w.f concentration exceeding 6%. Under these processing conditions, the chitosan-modified cotton fabrics demonstrate excellent colorfastness to sunlight, water, and friction, all exceeding grade 4. Furthermore, they exhibit good antibacterial properties, UV protection, and odor resistance, making them highly practical.