Photos of untreated nonwoven fabric (left) supporting heavy amounts of growth from the Trichoderma virens test organism after testing using the AATCC Method 30, part III versus a nonwoven made using Ultra-Fresh antimicrobial treated fibers (right). Photo: Collected
Today’s consumers demand high performance from the products they purchase such as apparel, home textiles, and flooring products, so combating the undesirable effects of microbial growth is of utmost importance.
What are microbes?
Microbes are organisms that often cannot be seen by the naked eye, requiring the use of a microscope to be clearly seen. They include bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, and micro-animals such as house dust mites.
Although these organisms are microscopic, they are present in abundance all around us.
On unprotected materials, their growth rate in optimal environmental conditions can be rapid, with some bacteria doubling every 20 minutes. Once growth takes hold, these microorganisms will cause unpleasant odors, staining, and product degradation, reducing the useful life of untreated fibers, textiles, and nonwovens.
What are antimicrobial treatments?
An antimicrobial treatment is an active agent that, when included in the manufacturing process of a product or material, works to inhibit growth and even eliminate microorganisms from occurring within the material or product throughout its entire lifespan.
Antimicrobials may be referred to as either antibacterial or antifungal agents. Antibacterial treatments control the growth of bacteria, while antifungal treatments control the growth of fungi, mold, and mildew.
How are antimicrobial treatments added to fibers?
Depending on the fiber type, diameter size, and processing conditions, antimicrobials can be incorporated using several different methods. They can be added directly into a fiber or the fiber sheath during extrusion, or topically added after the fibers have been manufactured, either by polymer coating, spray application or by introducing into the spin finish.
For nonwoven products, if options are not available to treat the fibers before production, antimicrobial additives can be incorporated during the bonding or finishing processes. Knitted or woven textiles are typically treated using a pad application or by exhaust. See details.
Source: Online/NAN
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