Preparation, characterization and antibacterial functionalization of cotton fabric using dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride-allyl glycidyl ether-methacrylic/nano-ZnO composite

• The epoxy of composite could react with –OH of fiber to form chemical bonding.
• Nano-ZnO and N+ could produce synergistic antimicrobial properties of fabric.
• The composites treated cottons had excellent antibacterial activities.

The polymer dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride-allyl glycidyl ether-methacrylic shortened as P(DMDAAC-AGE-MAA) was prepared via free radical polymerization. P(DMDAAC-AGE-MAA)/nano-ZnO composites were obtained after mixing the polymer under different pH with nano-ZnO. P(DMDAAC-AGE-MAA)/nano-ZnO composites were characterized by Fourier transformation infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that nano-ZnO existed among the composites, and the polymer chain did not encapsulate nano-ZnO. The crystal structure of polymer changed because of the complexation of the polymer with nano-ZnO. The morphologies of P(DMDAAC-AGE-MAA)/nano-ZnO composites were core–shell and long strip structure when the pH of polymer was 2.6 and 3.0. After composite materials were loaded onto cotton fabrics, the surface morphology of the fabrics was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The antibacterial properties of P(DMDAAC-AGE-MAA) polymer and P(DMDAAC-AGE-MAA)/nano-ZnO composites treated cottons and treated cottons after being washed 5 times (equivalent of household washing 25 times) were tested against the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus, ATCC25923) and the fungus Candida albicans (C.albicans, ATCC10231). P(DMDAAC-AGE-MAA)/nano-ZnO treated cottons had higher antibacterial activities than P(DMDAAC-AGE-MAA) treated cottons.

The cotton fibers were treated with P(DMDAAC-AGE-MAA)/nano-ZnO composite in order to improve antibacterial properties via synergistic effect of nano-ZnO and N+. The covalent bond between epoxy groups of composite and hydroxyl of the fiber can enhance the washing fastness of cotton fibers.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide