Antimicrobial Polyacrylonitrile/m-Aramid Hybrid Composite

Antimicrobial polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/m-aramid hybrid film was prepared. PAN and m-aramid were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide, thin-layered on a glass plate, and then coagulated in distilled water. The morphology of the PAN/m-aramid hybrid film was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The molecular interaction between PAN and m-aramid was assessed by dynamic mechanical analysis. The antimicrobial efficacy was measured by a swatch test using bacterial suspensions. The PAN/m-aramid hybrid film produced a 7-log reduction against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus within 5-min contact time.