Copper(I)oxide microparticles - synthesis and antimicrobial finishing of textiles

Copper containing particles are of high interest to provide antibacterial activity to textiles for medical products, hygiene application or where odor formation as result of bacterial activity has to be controlled. Cu(I)oxide microparticles with a rather uniform diameter between 1.5 and 2 mu m can be prepared by controlled reduction of alkaline Cu(II)-tartaric acid complexes. Such particles can be bound to textile surfaces by means of a pigment binder system used in pigment dyeing. By a simple pad-dry process textile fabrics with a Cu-content of 250-270 mg Cu per kg fabric could be prepared. The samples (fabrics) exhibited a reduction in viability of 100% for Staphylococcus aureus and 84% for Klebsiella pneumonia as estimated by the ASTM E2149 antimicrobial test. Simulated wash procedures led to a reduction in Cu-content to 60-50% of the initial value. Reduction in viability remained at 99% for Staphylococcus aureus and 78% for Klebsiella pneumoniae. The new process is of high value to impart antimicrobial properties to textile products because an antimicrobial product with good wash permanence can be delivered using rather simple processing and ordinary chemicals.