ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY AND DURABILITY OF SOME REGENERATED CELLULOSIC FABRICS TREATED WITH Zn, Cu AND Ag METAL SALTS AFTER REPEATED LAUNDERING

In this study, the antibacterial activity and durability against repeated laundering of Modal , Promodal , Tencel , Viscose and Viloft knitted fabrics were studied. The fabrics were treated with zinc, copper and silver metal salts using the exhaustion technique, and then washed 10 times to determine wash durability against pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli and S. aureus. The bacteriodynamic activity of the treated fabrics was evaluated in accordance with the ASTM E2149-01 test method. The amounts of the metal ions on the fabrics (applied and residual after washing) were analyzed by XRF. In conclusion, all metal ion treatments yielded satisfactory results as to antibacterial activity. The durability of Cu treated fabrics after repeated laundering cycles was higher than that of Ag and Zn treated fabrics. However, the antibacterial activity of Ag and Cu treated fabrics was higher in comparison with that of Zn treated fabrics.