ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Scientists in India have invented a substance they claim can make clothing stain-proof.

The substance uses nano-particles of titanium dioxide which, when mixed with an alcohol-like substance and sprayed on to clean clothes, is said to be an effective stain remover.

The technology has been developed by the Facilitation Centre for Industrial Plasma Technologies in Gandhinagar in western India.

"The TiO2 nano-particles become trapped between the fibres of the cloth to form a protective coat," said senior scientist at FCIPT C Balasubramanian.

"The moment a tough stain such as a turmeric-enriched curry falls on to a nano-treated shirt or top, the stain vanishes after the top has been left in the sun for two to three hours.

"The sun's ultraviolet rays activates the TiO2 which helps to convert oxygen from the atmosphere into radical oxygen - and this reacts with stain molecules and breaks them down."

The nano-particle powder is formed using titanium metal which is vaporised with plasma to form titanium dioxide. According to Balasubramanian, FCIPT has been able to dramatically speed up the production of titanium dioxide.

"Normally, preparing TiO2 through a chemical process involves several steps over many days," he said. "At FCIPT we can produce nano-particles of high purity in large quantities through plasma treatment in two to three minutes flat."

Once sprayed on, the TiO2 coat is said to remain active for more than 20 washes.