Preparation and Properties\nof Antimite Microcapsule-Loaded\nSubmicron Fiber/Cotton Fiber Composite Yarn

Home textiles provide suitable living conditions for\ndust mites,\nwhich heavily endanger home environmental hygiene and human health.\nCurrent antimite home textiles are deficient in comfort, raw-material\navailability, and durability. To overcome these shortcomings, we synthesized\nantimite microcapsules via an ionic cross-linking method, with benzyl\nbenzoate encapsulated inside calcium alginate (i.e., primary encapsulation).\nThe microcapsules were further encapsulated into electrospun submicron\nfibers, which were then embedded into cotton web in the carding process\nfor spinning yarns (i.e., secondary encapsulation). The percentage\nof benzyl benzoate successfully encapsulated within the microcapsules\nwas calculated to be 49.74%. The as-prepared yarn shows an excellent\nantimite efficiency (∼82.31%) with an enhanced wicking capability\nand unaffected mechanical property. Moreover, the double encapsulation\nof microcapsules enhances the sustained release of benzyl benzoate\nand significantly improves mite-repellency rates, ranging from 82.11%\nto 97.13%. This study provides a paradigm to fabricate the antimite\nyarn suitable for home-textile application, which has a high requirement\nfor suitability.