Modification of woolen fabrics was done by the grafting of low-molecular-weight deacetylated chitosan in the presence of citric acid as a crosslinking agent with the pad-dry cure method at different conditions (times and temperatures). The add-on of chitosan and the optimum conditions were determined. The improved properties of modified wool by chitosan were evaluated with the urea bisulfite solubility test, crease recovery angle, yellowness index, and scanning electron microscopy. The dyeing properties of modified wool fabrics were studied with acid and reactive dyes. The biocidal activities of the modified and unmodified wool samples were evaluated and compared against some species of microorganisms, including Escherichia coli (Gram negative), Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive), Candida albicans, and Aspergillus flavus.

Novel biocidal fabrics were synthesized by the graft copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto plasma-treated nonwoven polypropylene (PP) to produce PP/ GMA grafts. Atmospheric oxygenated helium plasma was used to enhance the PP fabrics' initiation before GMA grafting. The grafted PP/GMA epoxide group was reacted with b-cyclodextrin, monochlorotrizynyl-b-cyclodextrins, or a quaternary ammonium chitosan derivative [N-(2 hydroxy propyl) 3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride]. Some interesting biocidal agents were complexed into the cyclodextrin (CD) cavity of PP/GMA/CD grafted fabrics. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and optical and scanning electron microscopies were used to characterize the grafted complexed fabrics. These synthesized biocidal fabrics proved to be antistatic, antimicrobial, and insect-repelling (see part II of this study).

Melt spinning of polypropylene fibers containing silver and zinc nanoparticles was investigated. The nanometals were generally uniformly dispersed in polypropylene, but aggregation of these materials was observed on fiber surface and in fiber cross-sections. The mechanical properties of the resulted composite fibers with low concentration of nanometal were comparable to those for the control PP yarns. Extruded composite fibers that contained 0.72% silver and 0.60% zinc nanoparticles had outstanding antibacterial efficacy as documented by the percentage count reduction growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Fibers containing silver particles had improved antistatic properties.

Atmospheric plasma-aided graft copolymerization of textile materials provides single or multiple functionality polypropylene (PP) modified fabrics. Biocidal PP's are modified ones to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, molds, and fungi, and insect and tick repelling action. Novel PP biocidal fabrics synthesized by graft copolymerization using plasma-aided technique (see part I of this study) using antibacterial and insect repellent agents have been tested and evaluated and proved to be antimicrobial, tick repellent, and antistatic.

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