This study evaluated the bioactivity of polypropylene melt-blown filtering nonwovens used in respiratory protective devices (RPD) with a biocidal agent (alkylammonium microbiocides) on 2 mineral carriers. Two types of carriers were tested: a bentonite, with an aluminosilicate base, and a perlite, volcanic glass. High biostatic and biocidal effects of modified nonwovens with biocides were tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. Nonwovens modified with a biocide on a bentonite carrier showed an opposite reaction to a biocide on a perlite. The research also showed that 10% concentration of a biocidal agent on a perlite carrier was sufficient to inhibit the growth of bacteria (100% reduction) placed in the structure of a filtering material during normal use of RPD. A comparison of the biological activity of 2 filtering materials, each containing 10% of a perlite and produced in a laboratory and industrial conditions, showed no statistically significant differences.

In this work, a multifunctional polymer composite is made using melt-blowing technology from polypropylene (88 wt.%) and poly (ethylene terephthalate) (12 wt.%) with the addition of functional modifiers, that is, 3 g of a superabsorbent polymer and 5 g of a biocidal agent (Biohaloysite). The use of modifiers is aimed at obtaining adequate comfort when using the target respiratory protection equipment (RPE) in terms of microclimate in the breathing zone and protection against harmful aerosols including bioaerosols. The developed production method is innovative in that the two powdered modifiers are simultaneously applied in the stream of elementary polymeric fibers by two independent injection systems. Aerosols of the modifiers are supplied via a specially designed channel in the central segment of the die assembly, reducing the amount of materials used in the production process and saving energy. The results show that the proposed method of incorporating additives into the fiber structure did not adversely affect the protective and functional properties of the resulting filtration nonwovens. The produced nonwoven composites are characterized by SEM, FTIR, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Given their high filtration efficiency at 5%, satisfactory airflow resistance (~200 Pa), very good antimicrobial activity, and excellent water absorption capacity, the obtained multifunctional nonwoven composites may be successfully used in filtering respiratory protective devices.

Personal protective equipment worn by uniformed services (e.g., the police and the military) must ensure protection against bodily injuries. However, a high degree of protection is always associated with significant discomfort. This article presents the results of an assessment of the ergonomics parameters of new special purpose products, ballistic inserts with improved ballistic resistance, and an assessment of the impact of the burden related to their use on the psychomotor performance of the subjects. An obstacle course and subjective ergonomics assessment questionnaires were used in tests. Thermal discomfort was also assessed. Psychological testing included tests enabling an assessment of the subjects' cognitive and psychomotor performance, and a subjective assessment of mental load. The tests did not show any decrease in the comfort of use of the new inserts with improved ballistic resistance compared to the inserts currently used.

This article presents a new bioactive polymer filtering material obtained by the pneumothermal method from polypropylene with an active substance, alkylammonium microbiocide, as an active substance on a perlite carrier. Material with only 8 % of this bioperlite (0.37 % biocide) showed high antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria: E.coli, P.aeruginosa, K.pneumoniae (99.9 % reduction), S.aureus, M.flavus (95 %) and fungi: A.niger (98 %) and C.albicans (94 %) after 6 hours of incubation. Bacteria B.subtilis were less evidently sensitive to the biocidal activity of the bioactive nonwoven fabric (86 % reduction), but material with 10 % bioperlite showed 100 % reduction of microorganisms. The application of bioperlite caused an increase in the hydrophilic character of the polymer material. It was found that an increase in the humidity of the bioactive nonwoven caused an increase in the antimicrobial properties of the material. In a test of model filtering systems that included the new bioactive nonwoven fabric with bioperlite, its high antimicrobial activity and efficient aerosol filtration for both solid and liquid particles (NaCl and paraffin oil mist) and also microorganisms (E.coli, S.aureus) were established. The presented filtering system with a bioactive nonwoven fabric including alkylammonium microbiocides on a perlite carrier may be applied in the production of filtering half-masks and filters in workplaces where microbiological risk occurs.NOWY BIOAKTYWNY POLIMEROWY MATERIA£ FILTRACYJNY OBEJMUJ¥CY W£ÓKNINÊ POLIPROPYLENOW¥ ZAWIERAJ¥C¥ ALKILOAMONIOWE MIKROBIOCYDY NA NOOENIKU PERLITOWYM Streszczenie -Przedstawiono nowy bioaktywny materia³ polimerowy o w³aoeciwooeciach filtru-j¹cych otrzymany metod¹ pneumotermicznego formowania w³ókniny z polipropylenu z dodatkiem ró¿nych ilooeci substancji aktywnej -biocydu alkiloamoniowego -na nooeniku stano-wi¹cym perlit (tabela 1). Materia³ taki zawieraj¹cy tylko 8 % bioperlitu (0,37 % biocydu) charakte-ryzowa³ siê ju¿ du¿¹ aktywnooeci¹ wobec bakterii gram-dodatnich i gram-ujemnych: E.coli, P.aeruginosa, K.pneumoniae (99.9 % redukcji), S.aureus, M.flavus (95 %) i grzybów: A.niger (98 %) oraz C.albicans (94 %) po 6 godzinach inkubacji (tabela 2); bakterie B.subtilis by³y znacznie mniej wra¿liwe na bioaktywn¹ w³ókninê (86 % redukcji). Natomiast efekt redukcji mikroorganizmów materia-³u z 10-proc. zawartooeci¹ bioperlitu wynosi³ 100 % (tabela 2). Zastosowanie bioperlitu przyczyni³o siê do zwiêkszenia hydrofilowego charakteru materia³u polimerowego. Stwierdzono, i¿ wzrost wilgotnooeci materia³u bioaktywnego powoduje polepszenie w³aoeciwooeci przeciwdrobnoustrojowych materia³u (tabela 3). W badaniach modelowych uk³adów materia³ów filtruj¹cych zawiera-j¹cych now¹ bioaktywn¹ w³ókninê wykazano ich doskona³¹ aktywnooeae przeciwdrobnoustrojow¹ oraz skuteczn¹ filtracjê bioaerozolu cz¹stek zarówno sta³ych (NaCl), jak i ciek³ych (mg³a oleju parafinowego) oraz drobnoustrojów (E.coli, S.aureus) (tabela 4). Omówiono uk³ad filtruj¹cy -w³óknina PP z biocydem alk...

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