Quaternization of Acrylonitrile Treated Cotton Fabric to Introduce Antibacterial Properties

Abstract

The primary objective of modifying cotton fabric was to impart bactericidal properties to attract various fields such as defense, space and textile industrial applications and incorporation of phosphorus element to impart flame retardancy. Chemically initiated graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) onto cotton fabric was carried out using ceric ammonium nitrate as a redox initiator. Optimum conditions pertaining to maximum percentage of grafting were evaluated as a function of concentration of initiator [CAN], concentration of nitric acid, monomer concentration, water, temperature and reaction time. Maximum grafting of AN (69.23%) was obtained at optimum [CAN]=2.19 X 10-2moles/L, [AN]=18.85 X 10-22moles/L , [HNO3]= 89.5 X 10-22moles/L in 25 ml of water at an optimum temperature 600C with 120 minutes. Antibacterial properties were induced into the modified cotton fabric by treating the grafted fabric with benzyl chloride. The grafted and quaternized samples were characterized by FTIR and Thermo gravimetrical analysis and scanning electron microscopy. There physicochemical properties such as crease recovery angle, wettibility, moisture regain and mechanical strength is also studied. The bactericidal action of cotton fabric was tested by filtration test. The quaternized sample shows good antibacterial activity.