Incorporating anti-fungal properties in cotton fibre by radiation grafting

Trialkyl ammonium chlorides have been reported to show germicidal action to bacteria. In the present work grafting of Vinyl benzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (VBT) onto finished cotton cloth to get a anti-fungal cotton cloth by simultaneous grafting technique has been reported. The effect of various experimental parameters namely total dose (kGy), dose rate (kGy h-1), ambience and concentration on grafting yields have been investigated. The result show that extent of grafting increased at lower dose rates while no significant increase in grafting levels are seen in de-aerated samples. Grafting level rise to ∼40% at a VBT concentration of 40 % from ∼8% at a concentration of 10% of VBT, however higher concentration monomer also leads to formation of higher amounts of jelly like homopolymer. The samples grafted to levels of ∼40 % show increased water uptake of 550% in comparison to water uptake of 200% for ungrafted sample. Poly (VBT) synthesised by radiation polymerization shows good antifungal properties against the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosperium which is well known to attack cellulose substrate. (author)