Durable curcumin-treated antibacterial polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics (against Staphylococcus aureus) were produced by dyeing with curcumin after surface activation using vacuum ultraviolet excimer lamp at 172 nm. Surface change properties of the exposed fabrics were characterized by surface analysis methods such as wettability, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results show an increase in surface hydrophilicity with a water contact angle of the PET fabric reaching 24 degrees after 10 mm excimer irradiation, which could be attributed to an increase in carboxyl group formation as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. Varying concentrations of curcumin were immobilized onto untreated and vacuum ultraviolet-irradiated PET samples using diffusion method at 90 degrees C, and the treated fabrics characterized using K/S (color strength) values at 440 nm. K/S values increased when the PET surface was subjected to a prior excimer irradiation, because of grafting of curcumin at the PET surface. Increased excimer irradiation time increased grafting of curcumin because the inner fabric fiber surfaces were also more thoroughly treated. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 1583-1590, 2011