Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.69, No.11, 2213-2220, 1998
Antibacterial activities of acrylic acid-grafted polypropylene fabric and its metallic salt
Acrylic acid (AAc) was grafted onto polypropylene (PP) fabric by a preirradiation method using a Co-6D gamma ray. The effects of the absorbed dose, the reaction temperature, reaction time, storage time, as well as the addition effect of ferrous ion and sulphuric acid on the degree of grafting, were determined. It was shown that the synergistic effect of a strong acid with ferrous sulfate can increase the grafting yield. Antibacterial activities on metallic complexes of acrylic acid-grafted polypropylene (AAc-g-PP) fabric were evaluated by a viable cell counting method. An Ag complexed fabric had strong biocidal effect for all bacteria. Fe, Cu, and Zn complexed fabrics had different antibacterial activities depending on each bacterium. However, AAc-g-PP fabric and Ni-complexed fabric did not have bactericidal effect.