Characterization and antimicrobial properties of metal complexes of polypropylene fibers grafted with acrylic acid using gamma irradiation

Polypropylene fibers were treated against microbial effects by gamma radiation-induced grafting of acrylic acid, followed by metal complexation with Zn2+ or Ag+ metal ions. The treated polypropylene fibers were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of the treatment on the thermal stability was investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis, in which a slight increase in the major thermal stability was observed. The antimicrobial activity of the treated fibers was also evaluated. On the basis of the obtained results, it was found that the antimicrobial properties of the treated fibers were enhanced both qualitatively, as indicated by the distinct inhibition zone diameter towards Gram-positive as well as Gram-negative bacterial strains under study, and quantitatively, in which 100% inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was achieved. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.