Regenerable Antimicrobial Finishing of Cotton with Nitrogen Plasma Treatment

Abstract

The effects of process variables on regenerable antimicrobial finishing of cotton fabric with nitrogen plasma treatment were investigated. Cotton fabric was treated with a mixture of nitrogen and helium plasma, and it was chlorinated with sodium hypochlorite to impart antimicrobial properties. An orthogonal array testing strategy (OATS) was used in the finishing process to determine the optimum treatment conditions. After finishing, the properties of cotton fabric, including concentration of chlorine, tearing strength, and presence of functional groups, were evaluated by ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), tear testing, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Cotton fabric treated with nitrogen plasma and chlorination effectively blocked microorganism growth. The resistance to Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was regenerable, and nitrogen plasma treatment showed no noticeable influence on the tearing strength of the cotton fabric.