Abstract:
This research developed an antimicrobial spray for material coating using polymer particles containing quaternary ammonium (QA) and benzophenone (BP) groups on their surfaces prepared by emulsion polymerization. The obtained particles could then be coated onto the substrate with a covalent bond via the BP group, whereas the QA group displayed antimicrobial properties.
First of all, the macro chain transfer agent (macro CTA) of poly (2-methacryloyloxy dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride- 4- allyloxy- 2- hydroxybenzophenone) - iodide (P(QAC12-BP)- I) was synthesized by solution iodine transfer polymerization where their repeating units for QAC12 and BP were 10 and 2, respectively. The synthesized macro CTA was then used for the preparation of poly (styrene-butyl methacrylate) [P(S-BA)] particles by emulsion iodine transfer polymerization. The obtained P(S-BA) particles with a molecular weight of 96,000 g/mol had nearly similar sizes (0.090 of polydispersity index; PDI), about 101 nm. A positive charge of +70 mV was observed due to the presence of the QA group derived from P( QAC12- BP) segments on their surfaces. In addition, X- ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement evidenced that the P(QAC12-BP) chains were mainly distributed on the particle surface. The emulsion of P(S-BA) particle-containing P(QAC12-BP) could be coated on fabrics via UV initiation without a binder and demonstrates high washing durability, with over 80% of particles remaining after 10 washing cycles. Moreover, with the QA group, the coated fabrics had antimicrobial properties against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.