Antibacterial coating of fabrics with nanofibers

Textiles are in permanent contact with microorganisms, which can cause serious problems, including fabric rotting, staining, unpleasant odours and health concerns ranging from simple discomfort to physical irritation, allergic sensitization, toxic responses, infection and disease. Therefore, the control of undesirable effects of microbes on textiles is becoming an important issue in textile industry. Consumers? attitude towards hygiene and active lifestyle has created a rapidly increasing market for antibacterial textiles, which in turn has stimulated intensive research and development. Various active agents such as silvernitrate, silver nanoparticles and irgasan are used to gain antibacterial properties to fabrics. In this study, nanofibers and nanoparticles were physically bonded to the fabric surface by electrospin and electrospray coating processes. The nanofiber layer coated on fabric surface is invisible thin layer and it gives antibacterial property to the fabric. This method is more economical and ecological due to the less raw material usage and environmental friendly process (no air or water pollution). The results show that the treated fabrics, may have antibacterial activity even after several washing cycles. Electron microscopy was used to observe the antibacterial agents on the fabrics before and after washing process.Key Words: nanofiber, electrospinning, electrospraying, antibacterial agent, washing resistance.