Crucial finishing and transfer printing of polyester blended fabrics

Abstract

Both consumer and manufacturer are faced with the presence of undesired bad microorganisms and the negative impacts they cause, in addition to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation that penetrates human skin and materials. Antimicrobial finishing was assured to be common among both consumers and manufacturers. The present study focused on the development of multifunctional polyester-containing fabrics such as cotton/polyester 50/50, cotton/polyester 33/67, wool/polyester 40/60 using Sanitized® T99-19 as an antimicrobial agent, and transfer printing technique, and then UV-SUN®, a reactive anionic UV absorber based on oxalanilides. Finishing formulation contains DMDHEU as tetra-functional resin catalyst, acetic acid, and softener. AATCC 100 and AATCC 147 analysis were carried out to assess the antibacterial activity against two types of bacteria. The results revealed that finished and printed fabrics acquired the ability to inhibit the growth of both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus compared with unfinished ones (without an antimicrobial agent), and to enhance of color strength and crease recovery angles. In addition, imparting UV blocking ability that achieved very good and excellent protection categories. Moreover, the efficiency of activity against the bacteria was sustained up to 20 machine washes.