Antimicrobial Treatment of Polyurethane Membrane Using Photodeposition of Nano-titanium Dioxide and Nano-silver

Abstract

Polyurethane membrane was chosen as an alternate for Gore-Tex ® used in outdoor sportswear. Antimicrobial property was induced by dispersing titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) particles on the surface of the membrane via sonication. Furthermore, Ag particle was photodeposited on the TiO 2 particles via UV irradiation to enhance the photocatalytic activity. Measurements using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that TiO 2 and Ag particles were evenly deposited on the membrane. In addition, the antimicrobial property against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus was validated using the shake flask method and clear zone method.