Investigation of the mechanical and antibacterial properties of acrylonitrile butadiene coated polyester gloves

The exposition to bacteria and viruses many times a day can be observed. The way to minimize this interaction is to take the necessary precautions. In addition to personal hygiene, the use of masks, gloves and disinfectants also plays an important role. While the mask reduces respiratory infection, the relationship between contact and transmission is quite high. Disposable gloves are generally used to prevent the transmission of microorganisms by contact. In addition to the fact that gloves are preferred because they are ergonomic, protective and have a good feel, the use of gloves is increasing in infectious diseases that have reached the level of pandemic, and it is the choice of people even in daily life. If the demand for these gloves, which is limited in production, increases, it makes it difficult for healthcare workers to meet their needs. Disposable gloves prevent the hands from breathing and cause sweating in long-term use. For this reason, it is difficult to use when during the day. Gloves, most of which are produced using natural latex raw materials, also cause high allergic reactions. Especially since it is disposable and not recyclable, it brings with it the problem of waste. The fact that reusable gloves have become a necessity shows the importance of studies on this subject. Since these gloves may cause a hygiene problem, antibacterial coating is aimed in this study. In this thesis, it is planned to produce washable antibacterial acrylonitrile butadiene rubber coated gloves and to investigate their mechanical and antibacterial properties, especially for cleaning staff in hospitals, for daily use in case of pandemic or for use in paint works such as paint shops. Alternatively, the production and durability of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber coated polyester gloves, which can be used in areas other than the health sector, will be examined. The primary purpose of the targeted study is to meet the values suitable for use within the standart of EN 388 "Mechanical Properties of Gloves" and ISO 20743 "Determination of Antibacterial Activity of Textile-Antibacterial Finished Products", to be ergonomic and durable. Especially when it is considered to be used for a long time, vulcanization accelerators such as sulfur, zinc diethyl dithiocarbamate (ZDEC) and zinc 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (ZMBT) were not used in order to avoid allergic reactions. Ionic bonding was chosen as cross-linking and its effect on abrasion properties and ergonomics was investigated by using zinc oxide at different rates. In addition, resistance to washing and antibacterial persistence were investigated. Optimization was made in terms of abrasion resistance and ergonomics by using zinc oxide (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 phr) at different rates. In this optimization, the gloves coated by choosing the appropriate value were subjected to 5 consecutive washings and it was aimed to obtain the desired standard values after each washing. As a result of the ionic bonding formed by the zinc oxide added to the structure, the positive effect of the glove on abrasion was observed. The negative effect of washing on the mechanical properties of the glove was also investigated. It was observed that the used silver nitrate solution preserved the antibacterial effect of the gloves after 5 washings. Microstructure analysis results also support that this antibacterial effect is preserved after 5 washings.