Coloration and antibacterial treatment of aramid fabric: a comprehensive review

Aramid fabric/fiber (AF), which possesses outstanding comprehensive qualities such as low density, high specific strength and high specific modulus, is widely used for body armor for defense. Different dyes and chemicals are required to give AF a specific coloration effect. AF is relatively difficult to dye due to its very crystalline structure and remarkable compactness. Different techniques, including supercritical carbon dioxide, microwave irradiation, liquid ammonia, ultraviolet treatment, copolymerization, high temperature, carrier method and ozone treatment, have already been utilized for the dyeing of AF. Some of these processes show excellent dyeing performance in terms of colorfastness against washing, rubbing and light. AF is also frequently used in harsh environments and cannot be cleaned in a timely manner. Bacteria that develop on its surface might pose a health concern, making AF with antibacterial properties extremely desirable. There have been a number of antibacterial treatments for AF to develop protection against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The in situ treatment of AF using silver nanoparticles showed a high level of antibacterial activity. However, there are no reviews that discuss the coloration and antibacterial activity of AF. Therefore, this review summarizes the coloration and antibacterial activity of AF using different dyes and nanoparticles.