One-Step Process for Dual Antimicrobial and Easy Care Finishing of Cotton Fabric

The technical feasibility of incorporating of dimethyltetradecyl-[trimethyl silane-propyl] ammonium chloride (DTPAC), (commercially available as Sanitize® T99-19) and poly (vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as antimicrobial agents in easy care finishing formulation along with glyoxal was investigated. Optimum conditions for a one-step process, like reagent concentrations, fixation temperature and time were investigated. The treated fabrics were monitored for physico-chemical properties, antimicrobial and easy care properties. The antimicrobial properties of the treated cotton fabric marginally increase as the concentration of PVP increase. This is indicated by the increment in the inhibition zone from 22 mm to 26 mm against S. aurous up to 30 g/L PVP to the treatment path. Although, the antimicrobial properties imparted to the treated cotton fabric is obtained from Sanitize® incorporated with addition of PVP. The results also show that, addition of PVP increase the crease recovery angle (CRA) of the treated fabric increased. Pre-carboxymethylation of cotton fabric increase both CRA and tensile strength. FT-IR and SEM were carried out to investigate the chemical and morphological changes of cotton cellulose after crosslinking.