Influence of the Components on the Efficiency of the Multifunctional Repellent and Antimicrobial Finishing with UV Protection

Abstract

In this research work the influence of the structure of repellent and antimicrobial agents as well as the UV absorber on the efficiency of the multifunctional finishing on the cotton fabric was studied. Fluorocarbon polymers (FCP) were used as the repellent agent. The UV absorber on the basis of oxalanilide (UV-Ap) was chosen for UV protection. As antimicrobial agents a biocid on the basis of 1 [[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-propyl-1,3-dioxalan-2-il]methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole (AMS-1) and a biostat on the basis of dimethyl-oktadecyl-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyl]ammonium chloride (AMS-2) were used. Finishing was carried out with pad-cure method under the appropriate conditions. The quality of finishing was graded according to its oleophobicity, hydrophobicity, ultraviolet protection factor and antimicrobial activity. The results show that since the presence of AMS-1 in the mixture with FCP does not change its oleophobicity, the addition of AMS-2 strongly decreases the FCP film oleophobicity. The UV protection factor of UV-Ap is not significantly decreased in the presence of FCP, AMS-1 and AMS-2, but the durability of UV-Ap strongly increases in mixtures with FCP and PMS-2, which form a polymer film on the fabric surface. The addition of FCP or UV-Ap does not affect the fungicidal activity of both antimicrobial agents, but the durability of AMS-1 significantly increases in the presence of FCP. This indicates that the polymer film formation on the fabric surface causes an increase of the finishing agent durability. In conclusion, when composing a multifunctional finish it is very important to choose the finishing agents, which act in the mixture synergistic.