Antimicrobial Finish

on Textiles

By:
Ms V. Krishnaveni
Mr. G. Raj kumar
 Antimicrobial finish on textiles
By:
Ms. V. Krishnaveni and Mr. G. Raj kumar

Lecturers, Department of Fashion Technology

Kumara guru College of Technology, Coimbatore - 6

ABSTRACT

Bio shield AM 500 3- (trimethoxy silyl)- propyl - dimethyl octadecyl ammonium chloride was applied to cotton
fabrics by a cold pad-batch method in the presence of an alkaline catalyst to evaluate its use as a durable
antimicrobial finish. The antimicrobial activities of the Bio shield AM 500 treated cotton fabrics were
evaluated quantitatively against AATCC 147 by Gram staining and Turbidity test method. The turbidity
value was maintained over 187 even after being exposed to 15 consecutive home laundering conditions.
The antimicrobial treated sweat sample was tested for microbial activity and the turbidity was 189.

INTRODUCTION

In the present day world most of us are very conscious about our hygiene and cleanliness. Clothing and
textile materials are not only the carriers of microorganisms such as pathogenic bacteria, odour generating
bacteria and mould fungi, but also good media for the growth of the microorganisms.

Microbial infestation poses danger to both living and non living matters. Obnoxious smell form the inner
garments such as socks, spread of diseases, staining and degradation of textiles are some of the
detrimental effects of bad microbes. Though the use of antimicrobials have been known for the decades, it is
only in the recent couple of years several attempts have been made on finishing textiles with antimicrobial
compounds. Anti microbial finish is a recent innovation in finishes. The consumers are now increasingly
aware of the hygienic life style and there is a necessity and expectation for a wide range of textile products
finished with antimicrobial properties. This finish prevents the growth of bacteria and products finished in it
have been proved environment friendly and health protecting, preventing diseases. It also prevents
garments from unpleasant odour.

In this research, subjective evaluations of antimicrobial finish applied fabrics are analyzed. The result of the
antimicrobial activity is based on the standard test method AATCC 147 for evaluating antimicrobial
effectiveness.

EXPERIMENTAL

Material used

Fabric

Cotton fabric with the following specification is scoured and bleached prior to the application of finish.

Fabric Count : 80 x 80
Yarn Count : 60s Combed X 60s Combed
GSM : 180
Type of weave : Plain

CHEMICAL USED

Bio shield AM 500 which is an aqueous solution of silicon quaternary ammonium salt, the key ingredient in it
being 3 - (trimethoxy silyl) - propyl - dimethyl octadecyl ammonium chloride.
ANTIMICROBIAL FINISH

Pretreatment

The material is treated with 2g/l acetic acid at 70 0C for 15 minutes with water. The liquor ratio is 1:20. The
material is given a cold wash for 5 minutes. The pH is maintained at 7.

Finish Application

The pretreated cotton fabric is treated with bio shield AM 500 at three different concentrations 1%, 2% and
3% respectively at room temperature for 30 minutes with water. The liquor ratio is 1:7. The material is hydro
dried for 5 minutes. The pH is maintained at 6. Finally the fabric samples are tested for antimicrobial activity
as per the standard test methods.

Standard assessment test for anti microbial finish

The subjective test is carried out based on the various standards set by the American Association for
Testing Chemicals and Colorist AATCC 147. The following tests are carried out to find out the antimicrobial
activity.

1. Gram staining
2. Turbidity test

Gram staining

Preparation of Nutrient broth solution:

Nutrient broth is a media which helps to grow bacteria with the necessary ingredients in a broth for the
analysis of bacteria. A broth is prepared with the following ingredients.

Water - 100ml
Peptone - 0.2 gm
Yeast - 0.2 gm
Beef extract - 0.3 gm
NaCL - 0.5 gm

The solution is sterilized for 15 min at 1200C and it is allowed to cool. Then the fabric is immersed in the
broth solution for 24 hours.

Gram staining

After 24 hours of growth from nutrient broth, the growth suspension is taken using an inoculation needle and
it is placed on a glass slide. A smear is made and it is heat fixed. Then it is treated with solutions like crystal
violet and kept for 1 min. Then it is rinsed with distilled water and 2 drops of iodine is added and kept for 60
sec. Then it is decolorized with few drops of alcohol because large amount of alcohol makes even a gram
positive cell to gram negative. After adding alcohol, it is again washed with water and saffranin is added and
it is kept for 1 min.

It is again washed with distilled water, air dried and observed under microscope. Bacteria stained by the
gram method fall under two groups. Gram positive bacteria which retain violet colour and the Gram negative
bacteria stained by sarafnin and hence appear pink in colour.
Turbidity test

Turbidity test is the subjective evaluation test carried out to find the bacterial growth in the microscope .The
result is predicted based on the turbidity of the solution which is determined by the amount of passage of
light. The turbidity decreases, as the bacterial growth reduces with the increase in the concentration of the
antimicrobial agent. Hence, the turbidity rate decreases as the bacterial growth reduces.

TABLE –1

Turbidity test

Concentration Turbidity rate

(%) Sample1 Sample2 Sample3 Sample4 Sample5
Untreated sample 283 285 280 282 279
1 % treated 256 254 253 257 255
2 % treated 232 235 230 236 234
3 % treated 189 191 187 192 188
After 10 washes 187 186 187 190 188
After 15 washes 186 187 190 188 187
Sweat sample(un 456 478 443 467 458
treated)
Sweat sample (treated) 192 188 190 186 189
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

From the turbidity test results the bacterial reduction rate varies from

1 percent concentration - 283 turbidity rate

2 percent concentration - 267 turbidity rate
3 percent concentration - 183 turbidity rate

There is a decrease in turbidity rate as the concentration increases.The findings of the study reveals that the
3 % concentration of anti microbial treated fabrics found to be very effective and can be used for hygenic
and health care application. The bacteria found in the fabric are gram positive (turbidity value 183 indicates,
there are 183 microbes) which will not cause any problem to human beings. Further research work has to be
carried out in finding out the genus and species of the organism.

CONCLUSION

Apart from the industrial use, anti microbial finish on textiles has become essential in our day today life to
live in fresh and hygienic atmosphere. The finish has excellent potential in various textile uses like inner
wears, house hold articles and baby care products. Even though many products have come, but still there is
very good scope for the textile researchers in this field.

References

www.aatcc.org
www.biogents.com
www.microbes.com
Asian textile journal ‘March 2004’ P-.45, 47
Barxoclamo (July 2004) ‘Indian textile journal’
Butter Worth, (1964), Review Of Textile Process, Butter Worth And Co. Publishers Ltd, Bangalore, P-33

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