Poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers containing zinc chloride in the fiber bulk were prepared by solvent crazing. Fibers containing 6 g/Kg and 13 g/Kg Zn 2þ were investigated. SEM-EDX analyses and the formation of the pink bis(1,5-dithiocarbazonato-N,S) complex inside the fibers confirm the presence of zinc. UV-Vis spectroscopy indicates a slow release of zinc ions into the aqueous media and, thus, the fibers serve as a release system to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli during the first exposure. Thermal annealing of the freshly prepared fibers above T g was shown to modify the release profile so that bacterial growth was also inhibited during repetitive and prolonged exposures. The washing fastness is fair and after 10 washing cycles, $ 30% of the original zinc content still remains in the fiber.

An approach to generate localized, isolated percolating networks of Ag nanoparticles in the micropores of solvent-crazed PET films is presented. The films show a resistance of 6.32 Ω in the direction of the crazes and >20 MΩ perpendicular to it.

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