Recent Advances in Antimicrobial Treatments of Textiles

TLDR

Microbial growth on textiles during use and storage harms both wearer and fabric, but durable antimicrobial finishes or biocide‑incorporated fibers can control these effects, and rising consumer hygiene concerns have spurred a growing market and intensive R&D. This review examines the requirements, evaluation methods, application techniques, and recent advances in antimicrobial textile treatments using agents such as silver, quaternary ammonium salts, polyhexamethylene biguanide, triclosan, chitosan, dyes, N‑halamine compounds, and peroxyacids. The review illustrates commercial antimicrobial products and their finishing methods, highlighting how different active agents are incorporated into textiles.

Abstract

The growth of microbes on textiles during use and storage negatively affects the wearer as well as the textile itself. The detrimental effects can be controlled by durable antimicrobial finishing of the textile using broad-spectrum biocides or by incorporating the biocide into synthetic fibers during extrusion. Consumers' attitude towards hygiene and active lifestyle has created a rapidly increasing market for antimicrobial textiles, which in turn has stimulated intensive research and development. This article reviews the requirements for antimicrobial finishing, qualitative and quantitative evaluations of antimicrobial efficacy, the application methods of antimicrobial agents and some of the most recent developments in antimicrobial treatments of textiles using various active agents such as silver, quaternary ammonium salts, polyhexamethylene biguanide, triclosan, chitosan, dyes and regenerable N-halamine compounds and peroxyacids. Examples of commercial antimicrobial products are presented to illustrate the active agents used and their finishing methods.