Effect of 2-aminobenzothiazole on antimicrobial activity of waterborne polyurethane dispersions (WPUDs)

Antimicrobial coating, which has myriad applications in food industries, health authorities, veterinary care, cleansing, milk parlors, etc., has been produced in this research work. Polyol was synthesized by the condensation reaction of itaconic acid and 1,6-hexanediol. This polyol was then used for the synthesis of waterborne polyurethane dispersion (WPUDs), in which polyol was reacted with dimethylol propionic acid and isophoronediisocyanate to form a prepolymer. The prepolymer obtained was neutralized with triethylamine and 1,4-butanediol was used as a chain extender, followed by the addition of appropriate amount of water, as in a typical acetone process. 2-Aminobenzothiazole (ABT) was incorporated in the backbone along with the chain extender as an antimicrobial agent, and the effect of concentration of ABT on antimicrobial activity of coatings was studied. The obtained WPUDs were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, particle size and zeta potential. Cured films were characterized for thermal, mechanical and antimicrobial properties. WPUD with 20% ABT content showed increased thermal properties with the highest T_g of 71.48 °C and good antimicrobial activity with an approximate 60% inhibition rate.