ABSTRACT
Chitosan microcapsules embracing copaíba essential oil as the active ingredient were prepared by ionic gelation method. The textile material jersey knit, composed mainly by cotton, was impregnated by the solution, using the simple immersion method. Through scanning electron microscopy, the produced microcapsules were characterized in their morphologic composition. Microcapsules have been shown to be elongated, with diameters between 971.5 nm to 1.46 µm. By the thermal analysis, it was possible to verify the behaviour of the microcapsules and their bond breakage temperatures. It was also possible to verify, through the loss of mass of the material, that the oil had no residue and that microcapsule’s residue refers to chitosan. Such experiment indicates the potential of biopolymers as chitosan, in the result of encapsulation efficiency of copaíba oil. Accordingly, validating great potential as a healing enhancement agent applied in textiles, considering the properties anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic of the related essential oil.
