Synthesis of Polymer Quaternary Ammonium Salt Containing Epoxy Group/Nano ZnO Long-Acting Antimicrobial Coating for Cotton Fabrics

Poly[(allyl glycidyl ether)-co-(dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride)]/nano ZnO shortened as P(AGE-DMDAAC)/ZnO was prepared by in situ polymerization method. P(AGE-DMDAAC)/ZnO composite was characterized by Fourier transformation infrared, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that nano ZnO existed in the composite. P(AGE-DMDAAC)/ZnO was of M granular shapes with average diameter ranging from 70–100 nm. After the composite material was coated onto cotton fabrics, the surface morphology of the fabric was characterized by scanning electron microscope. The durability of the antimicrobial effects of cottons treated by P(AGE-DMDAAC) polymer and cottons treated by P(AGE-DMDAAC)/ZnO composite after washing 10 times (equivalent to household washing 50 times) was also evaluated against the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli, ATCC25922), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, ATCC25923), and the fungus Candida albicans (C. albicans, ATCC10231). P(AGE-DMDAAC)/ZnO treated cottons showed better antibacterial properties than P(AGE-DMDAAC) treated cottons against E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans. At the P(AGE-DMDAAC)/ZnO concentration of 25 g/L, the treated fabrics still had 98% antimicrobial properties against E. coli and S. aureus, and 75% antimicrobial properties against C. albicans after being washed 10 times.