Graft copolymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone onto stearyl alcohol to impart water repellency and antibacterial properties for cotton/polyester fabric

A PVP/SA adduct was prepared by reacting of N-vinylpyrrolidone with stearyl alcohol in presence of ammonium persulphate as initiator in different preparation reaction conditions. The optimum conditions to prepare that adduct are VP/SA, 25%; LR, 1 l/kg; reaction temperature, 80 °C and reaction time, 40 min. The graft copolymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone onto stearyl alcohol was confirmed by the FTIR analysis. The TEM image of the prepared adduct emulsion shows that its particle size ranges from 45 to 173 nm. Finishing of cotton/polyester fabric sample with easy care finishing bath containing 80 g/l of that adduct emulsion results in an increasing in the tensile strength, water repellency rating, antibacterial properties, softness degree, and stiffness along with a reduction in the resiliency of treated fabric. The surface of the prepared adduct treated fabric was characterized via scanning electron microscope.