Preparation, Characterization And Properties Of Alcohol - Modified Antibacterial Cotton Fiber

In this paper, under the action of cross-linking agent, three N-halamine precursors [3-(2-Dimethylamino-ethyl)-5,5-dimethyl-imidazolidine-2,4-dione(DEADH), 4-Amion-2,2,6,6-Tetramentylniperidine(ATMP), and 4-Hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine(HTMP)] were successfully grafted onto the cotton fibers by the dipping-drying-curing method. After grafting, the fibers can be rendered antimicrobial on exposure to a diluted household bleach solution. The paper includes the following contents:Using epichlorohydrin as cross-linking agent, DEADH was successfully grafted onto the cotton fiber. Crosslinking agent used in the method is cheap and readily available. The treatment before curing was operated at room temperature, and water was used as solvent. The curing time required in this project was short. So, this is energy saving and very suitable for industry mass production. Under the influence of cross-linking agent, DEADH was quaternarized, which will benefit the antibacterial cotton fiber’s hydrophilicity and flexibility. This would facilitate efficient play of antibacterial function of cotton fiber.Using epichlorohydrin as cross-linking agent, ATMP was successfully grafted onto the cotton fiber. ATMP used in the method is a kind of hindered amines. Based on the existing literature, this kind of structure has a good light stable, which can improve the using cycle of the antimicrobial cotton fiber. This method is also suitable for industrial mass production due to its energy-saving and environmental friendship. Crosslinking agent also helps to improve the functions of the antibacterial cotton fiber.Using 3-Glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane as cross-linking agent, HTMP was successfully grafted onto the cotton fiber. Like ATMP, HTMP used in the method also has a hindered structure. Interestingly, the curing process can be operated at very low temperature. It will be more energy-efficient and significantly reduce operating cost of industrial mass production.The antibacterial efficacies of these grafted and chlorinated cotton fibers with DEADH, ATMP and HTMP were tested. The results demonstrated that these antimicrobial cotton fibers have very high antimicrobial efficacies. Within 10 minutes, the three kinds of antimicrobial cotton fibers were able to inactivate 100%of S. aureus or E. coli. In addition, the results showed that the antimicrobial fibers grafted with ATMP or HTMP exhibit very good washing durability and stability.