M. Dever et al., CHARACTERIZATION OF MELT-BLOWN FILTERS MADE OF POLYPROPYLENE AND POLYPROPYLENE-ANTIMICROBIAL BLENDS, Tappi journal, 80(3), 1997, pp. 157-168
Melt-blown filter media continuing antimicrobial compounds were evalua
ted for mechanical properties properties, filtration efficiency, and a
bility to prevent bacterial growth on the filter. The filters were cha
llenged with gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria grown on agar at
three levels of pH and incubated at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C for
24 h and 48 h. Antimicrobial Compound A prevented growth of the gram-
positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria at pH 4.8. Compound A was inef
fective against the gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria at an
y pH. Compound B had no effect on bacterial growth. Compound C prevent
ed growth of gram-negative and-positive bacteria at all pH levels. The
antimicrobial compounds were nucleating agents, producing slight incr
eases in crystallinity temperature, modulus, tensile strength, and str
ess-at-break and a decrease in elongation-at-break. Fiber diameter inc
reased with increasing concentrations of antimicrobial compounds. Filt
ration efficiency decreased with increasing fiber diameter.