A reactive melamine derivative, 2‐amino‐4‐chloro‐6‐hydroxy‐s‐triazine (ACHT), was synthesized through the controlled hydrolysis of 2‐amino‐4,6‐dichloro‐s‐triazine. The reaction was characterized with Fourier transform infrared study and elemental analysis. ACHT could react with cotton cellulose at room temperature with a cold‐pad‐batch treatment process. Upon chlorination reactions, the amino group of covalently bound ACHT could be transformed into an N‐halamine structure, providing potent, durable, and rechargeable antimicrobial activities against both gram‐negative and gram‐positive bacteria. The chlorination mechanism and the structure–property relationship of the treated samples were further examined. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3818–3827, 2004

A reactive melamine derivative, 2-amino-4-chloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine (ACHT), was covalently bound onto cotton cellulose through nucleophilic substitutions. Four treatment methods, including cold-pad-batch, pad-dry-cure, pad-steaming, and exhaustion, were employed in the reactions. The pad-dry-cure method provided the highest reaction efficiency. The mechanical properties of the treated fabrics were characterized, and the reaction mechanism was further discussed. Upon chlorine bleaching treatment, the covalently bound ACHT moieties could be transformed into chloromelamine derivatives, providing potent, durable, and rechargeable antimicrobial functions against 10 6-10 7 CFU/mL of drug-resistant gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria under both waterborne and airborne conditions.