ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF ACRYLIC ACID-GRAFTED POLYPROPYLENE FABRICAND ITS METALLIC SALT

Acrylic acid (AAc) was grafted onto polypropylene (PP) fabric by a pre irradiation method using a Co-6D gamma ray. The effects of the absorbe d dose, the reaction temperature, reaction time, storage time, as well as the addition effect of ferrous ion and sulphuric acid on the degre e of grafting, were determined. It was shown that the synergistic effe ct of a strong acid with ferrous sulfate can increase the grafting yie ld. Antibacterial activities on metallic complexes of acrylic acid-gra fted polypropylene (AAc-g-PP) fabric were evaluated by a viable cell c ounting method. An Ag complexed fabric had strong biocidal effect for all bacteria. Fe, Cu, and Zn complexed fabrics had different antibacte rial activities depending on each bacterium. However, AAc-g-PP fabric and Ni-complexed fabric did not have bactericidal effect. (C) 1998 Joh n Wiley & Sons, Inc.