Antimicrobial finishing with

Research into controlled-release antimicrobials continues with organo-silver compounds and silver zeolites, which are promising candidates for textile finishes. Silver ions, for example, incorporated in glass ceramic, have a very low toxicity profile and excellent heat stability. These principles are also used for fibre modification, an alternative to the antimicrobial finishes with high permanence. In recent years a variety of antimicrobial modified fibres have been developed, including polyester, nylon, polypropylene and acrylic types. An example of these fibre modifications is the incorporation of 0.5-2 % of organic nitro compounds... 

Textile Finishing. Polyethyleneimine-A/-methylolurea derivatives improve the crease and wear resistance of cotton (429,430). The adhesion between individual wool fibers is improved by pretreatment with amines, which leads to improved shrink resistance (431). An antimicrobial finish can be appHed to cotton by using a combination of PEI and ureas to bind zinc pyrithione to the fabric (432). After wool has been provided with a flameproof finish using fluorozirconate or fluorotitanate, the wool can be neutralized with PEI (433). Conventional neutralizing agents caimot be used for this purpose since they impair the flameproof characteristics of the impregnated fabric. 

Prevention Antimicrobial finishes or fibre modifications hinder the decomposition of sweat Permanent with respect to washing and dry cleaning, especially in the case of fibre modification, restricted to smells from sweat decomposition, therefore only for clothing with skin contact. 

Journal of Applied Polymer Science 94, No.l, 5thOct.2004, p.243-7 ANTIMICROBIAL FINISHING OF ACRILAN FABRICS WITH CETYLPYRIDINIUM CHLORIDE Zaisheng Cai Gang Sun... 

It is established that the barrier efficiency of the woven fabrics directly depends on the arrangement of the filaments in the yam and the construction of the woven fabric. Research indicates that a desized, scoured, and bleached plain-weave cotton fabric weighing 130 g/m finished with a natural antimicrobial agent, neem seed, showed 99.5% antibacterial activity against S. aureus (Joshi et al., 2007). It should be mentioned that neem seed is obtained from the neem tree, Azadirachta indica, which... 

Sun, G., Xu, X., Bickett, J.R., Williams, J.F., 2001. Durable and regenerable antimicrobial finishing of fabrics with a new hydantoin derivative. Industrial and Engineering Cheiitistry Research 41, 1016—1021. 

Monolaurin (mono-ester of glycerol and lauric acid) is found in coconut oil and is claimed to have in vitro antibacterial and antiviral effects (Carpo et al., 2(X)7). Fabrics were finished with monolaurin and their antibacterial activity was examined according to the agar diffusion test (ISO 20645). The samples possessed antibacterial activity against S. aureus, but were not effective against E. coli (De Smet et al, 2014). Table 1.9 summarizes the antibacterial effect of textiles treated with different biobased antimicrobial products. The concentrations mentioned are dry weight concentrations (w/w) of the antibacterial additive onto the textile. 

Several smdies have been conducted on the use of plasma for water-repellent deat-ment of fabrics (Ceria and Hauser, 2010 Leroux et al., 2008 Di Mundo et al., 2009). Most of these studies have used fluorocarbon-based chemistry however, none of them attempted a dual treatment with antimicrobials. One study combined a water-repellent finish with a flame-retardant finish (Tsafack and Levalois-Griitzmacher, 2007). Moreover, a review paper entitled Non-thermal Plasma Treatment of Textiles provides a comprehensive review of how nonthermal plasma was used effectively to impart different properties to textiles such as hydrophihc, hydrophobic, and oleopho-bic properties (Morent, et al., 2008). 

The log reduction of the bacterial activity was calculated, and it was noted that the sample treated with water repellent only decreased the antimicrobial activity of the fabric. A negative log reduction indicates more bacterial growth than an untreated sample. Although the reasons for this are unknown, it makes the difference between this and DADMAC-based antimicrobial finish more significant. These samples were antimicrobial enough to overcome the starting disadvantage caused by the water-repellent treatment and impart substantial antimicrobial functionality to the fabric (Davis etal., 2011). 

Textile fabrics are finished with effective antimicrobial substances like ammonium, chlorinated diphenylethers (Triclosan), bisphenols, silver zeolites or cyclodextrines. Silver is an effective antimicrobial material and the constant release of a small amount of silver ions will kill bacteria or fungal growth. Silver particles may be added to the molten polymer or a silver coating may be applied to the fibres by a galvanic process. 

Housekeeping Goods From wipes, mops, sponges to other cleaning supplies, engineered fabrics have utility and with an antimicrobial finish, serve a more durable and functional life. 

To benefit fiom the demands for antimicrobial/antibacterial products as well as the antimicrobial/antibacterial performance needs of the mefocal products world, manufacturers have a choice. In choosing, they should utilize a treatment that provides for a microbial control claim and an antimicrobial finish for their textile products consistent with the needs of their target consumers. This selection should be done by considering the following ... 

The use of natural products such as chitosan [2] and natural dyes [3-4] for antimicrobial finishing of textile materials has been widdy reported. Other natural herbal products such as Aloe Vera, Tea Tree oil. Eucalyptus oil, Tulsi leaf (Pcimum basilicum) extracts etc. can also be used for this purpose, as there is a vast source of medicinal plants with active antimicrobial ii dients. Althoi there are many natural products rich in antimicrobial agents but tiie work on the exploration of their use in textiles is very limited and not well documented. The relatively lower incidence of adverse reactions to herbal products compared to modem synthetic pharmaceuticals, coupled with their reduced cost, can be... 

Y Sin, D Yoo, K Min, Antimicrobial finishing of polypropylene nonwoven fabric by treatment with chitosan oUgaiBer , J of App Polymer Sci, 19W 74 2911-2916. 

The surface activated polyester fabrics using plasma treatment, both using low pressure vacuum plasma as well as atmospheric pressure plasma system, were finished with neem se extract for imparting antimicrobial activity on polyester fabric. Initially, the polyester fabric activated through the three differmt routes was compared on the basis of their surface energy and ability to absorb a drop of water. 

Polyester fabrics need to be surfrice activated dther through alkaline hydrolysis or plasma treatment prior to their treatment with antimicrobial finishing agent i.e. neem... 

To prepare the antimicrobial finish, the samples were padded through baths of 0.5,1 and 2% CTAB solution with wet pick up of 130%, dried at 80-85"c for 3 minutes and cured at 145-150° c for 3 minutes. We also used both the fluorochemical repellent and the antimicrobial agent in one bath. 

Given the adaptability of this and other equally hazardous bacteria suggests that the reliance on cunent hygiene practice and antimicrobial finishes presently being used to combat the problem of antibiotic resistant strains alone would be optimistic. The use of an on-site contamination detection system embedded into the surface of the textiles used in a hospital alongside antimicrobial fabric treatments (bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal methods) would alert the user to changes in the level of bacterial contamination they are in contact with as it happens. 

Moist pulp, papers with an antimicrobial finish, hygienic papers (e.g. paper towels) and mould resistant packaging material (e.g. soap wrappers) are produced with the addition of non-volatile microbicides which are virtually insoluble in water, so that good retention is guaranteed. Water soluble microbicides can be applied together with size solutions and coating mixes. Proposals are 2-phenyl-phenol and Dichlorophen (III.5.4.1 and III.5.7.3) and carbamates (III.9). 

Kim, Y.H., Sun, G., 2001. Durable antimicrobial finishing of nylon fabrics with acid dyes and a quaternary ammonium salt. Textile Research Journal 71, 318—323. 

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