Durable antibacterial and temperature regulated core-spun yarns for textile health and comfort applications

Abstract

Antibacterial textiles play an important role in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. However, the development of their application is limited due to the lack of controlled release of antibacterial agents, low antibacterial efficiency and poor antibacterial durability under high temperature environment. The preparation of antimicrobial nanofibers by heating-controlled release and electrospinning may be an effective solution. In this paper, we prepared twisted composite yarns with high abrasion resistance, excellent electrothermal properties, light properties, antibacterial properties and slow-release properties using the technique of conjugate electrospinning combined with the conventional twisting process. With an applied voltage of 2 V, the temperature of the composite twisted fabric can reach 45 ℃, which obviously promotes the release of antibacterial agent in the nanofiber compared with the normal temperature. The photo thermoelectric properties of the yarn also enable body temperature management, with heating to high temperatures at low voltages. In addition, the twisted composite yarn inhibited S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans up to 99.6 %, 95.7 % and 72.5 %, respectively, and the inhibition rate was almost unchanged after 20 times of water washing. The twisted composite yarn reported in the present article would provide a new methodology for to multi-functional textiles.