The objective of this research was to study hydrophobicity and antibacterial activity of polyester fibers before and after modification by using silver nanoparticles as antibacterial agent and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) as a self-cleaning agent. The research was conducted in stages, preparation of silver nanoparticles, deposition of silver nanoparticles on polyester fiber, modification of polyester fiber through the addition HDTMS, and characterization. Modification of polyester fibers with silver nanoparticles and HDTMS was conducted through dipping method, followed by curing. Characterization was performed by testing the contact angle and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli ATCC 35218. Silver nanoparticles have been prepared by adding sodium citrate and polyvinylalcohol as a stabilizer. The addition of silver nanoparticles decreased hydrophobicity of polyester fibers without and with modification. Modification with HDTMS increased the hydrophobicity of polyester fibers. Modification with silver nanoparticles and HDTMS increased antibacterial activity of polyester fabrics. Statistic analysis showed that there were significant differences in the antibacterial activity of polyester fibers against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli ATCC 35218.Keywords: antibacterial activity, hydrophobicity, silver nanoparticles, polyester fabric.
ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari hidrofobisitas dan aktivitas antibakteri serat poliester sebelum dan sesudah modifikasi dengan penambahan bahan antibakteri berupa nanopartikel perak dan penambahan bahan antikotor berupa heksadesiltrimetoksisilan (HDTMS). Tahapan penelitian yang dilakukan meliputi preparasi nanopartikel perak secara kimia, deposit nanopartikel perak pada serat poliester, modifikasi serat polyester melalui penambahan HDTMS, dan karakterisasi. Modifikasi serat poliester dengan nanopartikel perak dan HDTMS dilakukan melalui metode pencelupan yang dilanjutkan dengan proses curing. Karakterisasi dilakukan melalui uji sudut kontak dan uji aktivitas antibakteri terhadap bakteri Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 dan Escherichia Coli ATCC 35218. Nanopartikel perak dapat dipreparasi melalui penambahan natrium sitrat dan penstabil polivinilalkohol. Penambahan nanopartikel perak menurunkan sifat hidrofobisitas dari serat poliester tanpa dan dengan modifikasi. Penambahan heksadesiltrimetoksisilan meningkatkan hidrofobisitas serat poliester. Modifikasi dengan nanopartikel perak dan HDTMS meningkatkan aktivitas antibakteri serat poliester terhadap bakteri Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 dan Escherichia Coli ATCC 35218. Analisis statistik menunjukkan adanya perbedaan yang signifikan dalam hal aktivitas antibakteri serat poliester terhadap bakteri Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 dan Escherichia Coli ATCC 35218.Kata kunci : aktivitas antibakteri, hidrofobisitas, nanopartikel perak, serat poliester.