ABSTRACT

Cotton fabrics containing crosslinked polyols exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus) after a process wash and even after 10 laundering cycles. Effectiveness against gram-negative bacteria (K. pneuinoniae) was good in some instances and poor in others. The best antimicrobial results were achieved with lower molecular weight polyols (PEG-1,000) at weight gains above 20% and with use of Hylite LF resin as the crosslinking agent. These results confirm earlier results by our cooperators regarding suppression of odor and microbial growth of fabrics containing crosslinked polyols. Possible mechanisms or modes by which antimicrobial activity is produced are explored. However, additional studies with other fiber types/blends and more extensive analytical data on corollary properties are needed to verify or prove these assumptions.