New Materials: Antibacterial Textiles Developed In Russia

Researchers from misis, a Russian National Research University, and colleagues from other universities have developed a new technology to make nonwovens have antibacterial properties. The technology is based on the modification of materials by RF gas discharge plasma at low pressure. The results were published in materials express.

The research on antibacterial properties of nonwovens was initiated at the beginning of the new crown epidemic. As we all know, the immune system of severe patients with new crown is low, which makes them prone to secondary bacterial infection. So scientists set themselves the task of developing antibacterial materials for disposable medical clothing, bed sheets, diapers and other products. The use of this material will help to curb the spread of pathogens in the hospital environment.

In order to make the nonwovens antibacterial, one of the authors of the study and researcher of biomaterials science at National Research University of technology, Ilya Larin, said the nonwovens were first placed in a closed system between two electrodes, air was evacuated to a moderate vacuum, and argon was injected into the system. When the electromagnetic field is generated, it accelerates from the cathode to the anode and "bombards" the product, thus destroying the molecular bonds of the polymer. The functionalized surface was then immersed in a jar containing a colloidal suspension of concentrated silver nanoparticles and impregnated with an antibacterial agent. After that, the antibacterial materials were treated with methane argon mixture.

Methane, a monomer in many polymers, is used as a building block on the surface of nonwovens to bind antibacterial agents to the surface. Then the product is sterilized in the autoclave.

(source: Science and technology daily)