Microencapsulation Techniques for Functional Textile Products

Abstract

Based on consumer demand, the textile industry is moving toward the creation of value-added functional textile products. As a result, various novel finishing processes have been developed to functionalize textile substrates. In this way, the microencapsulation technique is one of the sophisticated technologies that has been utilized to give functional features to textiles such as flame retardant fabrics, antibacterial activity, mosquito repellency, UV protection, and thermoregulation. The volatile and non-volatile components can be contained inside a thin polymeric film in microencapsulation, resulting in a delayed release of the chemical and a long-lasting functional impactVarious active compounds, such as essential oils, enzymes, and insecticides, have been effectively entrapped inside polymeric microcapsules. There are several papers in the literature that deal with the functionalization of textiles utilizing microencapsulated materials. This review article discusses the principles of microencapsulation, its primary techniques, the materials used in microencapsulation andits morphology, its factors and the relevant research that has been published in this field. The key essential oils utilized in microencapsulation are also discussed, as well as their functional benefits. The current and future research tendencies in this crucial field of textile chemical processing are addressed.