25-30Viscose fabrics have been modified to
enhance the attraction for nano metal oxides, namely aluminum oxide, zinc oxide
or titanium (IV) oxide, to impart antimicrobial activity against Escherichia
coli and Candida albicans. Viscose fabrics are
pretreated with 3-bromoprpionic acid prior to loading with nano metal oxides.
Optimization of the acid concentration is reported. The overall results show a
unique ability to stop microorganisms growth on the viscose fabrics pretreated
with
3-bromopropionic acid and after treatment with nano metal oxides. The ability
of nano metal oxide treated viscose fabrics
to reduce the microbial growth is found in the following order: zinc oxide >
aluminum oxide > titanium (IV) oxide.
The durability of antimicrobial activity has been tested after thirty wash
cycles