Abstract:

This paper presents a method of antibacterial and fungicidal active particles production and conditions of their use in textile-polymeric coating materials with a wide range of practical applications, including clothing or health preventive measures. The functional antibacterial
and fungicidal active particles reported here consist of silica submicro-spheres made by the sol-gel technique, whose developed surface was simultaneously overlaid with antibacterial metallic silver and fungicide copper nano-precipitates. This active powder constitutes significant progress in relation to the materials known, such as SiO₂/Ag or
SiO₂/Cu particles. Our SiO₂/Ag+Cu particles are incorporated into thin polymeric coats, mostly consisting of hydrophilic polyurethane with a compact structure, during their formation on the surface of textile fabrics to impart bactericidal and fungicidal properties to these fabrics at the same time. It is of importance that the additive used does not cause
any perceptible deterioration in the basic performance properties of the coating materials modified, such as high resistance to water penetration, wind-proofness and good hygienic characteristics, determined by means of water vapour permeability. This paper presents assumptions for the manufacturing process and physico-chemical and morphological
characteristics of submicro-particles of SiO₂/Ag+Cu, as well as conditions of their use in polymeric micro-coats formed on the surface of textiles and the results of testing the performance properties of the coating materials obtained, including their antibacterial and fungicidal characteristics.