Bactericidal Efficiency of Silver Nanoparticles Deposited onto Radio Frequency Plasma Pretreated Polyester Fabrics

The potential application of low-temperature radio frequency (RF) plasma for fiber surface activation in order to enhance the binding efficiency of colloidal silver nanoparticles onto the polyester fabrics and improve the stability of antibacterial effects was studied. Antibacterial activity and laundering durability were tested against gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. Plasma treatment positively affected the loading of silver nanoparticles as well as antibacterial activity and laundering durability of these textile nanocomposite materials. In spite of good laundering durability after five washing cycles, it was found that silver leached from the fabric into the bath during washing. Released silver from the washing effluent was efficiently removed by recycled wool-based nonwoven sorbent modified with hydrogen peroxide and biopolymer alginate.