Surface modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabric via photo-chemical reaction of dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide

► PET fibers were UV-grafted with dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide (DMAPMA). ► The graft yield could be controlled by irradiation time and monomer concentration. ► The tertiary amino groups of the grafted PDMAPMA were quaternized with alkyl bromides. ► The quaternization reaction had a high yield, when bromides with shorter alkyl chain were employed. ► The antimicrobial effect was highest, when samples were quaternized with 1-bromohexane and 1-bromooctane.