Journal of Materials Science, Vol.48, No.23, 8199-8208, 2013
Incorporation of photocatalytic function into nonwoven polyester fabrics via impregnation with peroxo titanic acid solution
Nonwoven polyester fabrics are widely used in disposable medical products, including medical gowns. Incorporation of antibacterial and deodorizing properties into these fabrics was undertaken by impregnation with peroxo titanic acid solution (PT solution) under high temperature and high pressure. Excellent antibacterial activity was achieved by treatment with PT solution at 150 or 170 A degrees C for 120 min. The proliferation of bacteria on the fabrics could be suppressed to about 1/1000 of the level of the untreated fabrics, even after washing. Fabrics impregnated with PT solution at 170 A degrees C for 120 min exhibited excellent deodorizing ability toward ammonia gas: the odor residual rate was 4.5 % after 6 h of standing, and merely 0.9 % after 12 h, which constitutes a large decrease. Because the impregnation treatment method presented here can be performed in existing dyeing equipment, this process is considered to be an industrially viable process.