Rendering Cotton Fabrics Antibacterial Properties Using Silver Nanoparticle-based Finishing Formulation

Nano-sized silver particles at a concentration of 1620 ppm were prepared using hydroxypropyl starch (HPS) as a reductant of silver nitrate and a stabilizer for silver nanoparticles. A solution containing 1620 ppm silver nanoparticles was diluted to 50 ppm and 100 ppm. The diluted solution was applied to cotton fabrics in the presence and absence of a binder to impart antibacterial properties to the fabrics. The solution containing 50 ppm silver nanoparticles with 1% binder (Printofix® Binder MTB EG liquid) induces excellent and durable bactericidal activity in cotton fabrics. The finished fabrics were examined for morphological features and surface characteristics by making use of the SEM. The SEM pictures reveal that silver nanoparticles are deposited on the surface of fibrils (fabric fibres).