Natural‐based polymers for antibacterial treatment of absorbent materials

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 137; no. 3
• Main Authors: Kaplan, Sibel, Aslan, Selçuk, Ulusoy, Seyhan, Oral, Ayhan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 15.01.2020; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Absorption; Alcohol; Antibacterial materials; biopolymer; Biopolymers; chemical characterization; Chemical synthesis; Cinnamaldehyde; Differential thermal analysis; Differential thermogravimetric analysis; Ethanol; Fabrics; Materials science; natural antibacterials; Nonwoven fabrics; Organic chemistry; pH buffering; Phenylethyl alcohol; Polylactic acid; Polymers; Stability analysis; sweat pad; Thermal stability
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.48302

ABSTRACT In this study, polypropylene (PP) nonwoven fabric which can be used as topsheet layer of an absorbent hygienic product was modified by natural based antibacterial agents. Antibacterial herbal agents (cinnamaldehyde, geraniol, phenylethyl alcohol) were sprayed by ethanol or applied by means of polylactic acid (PLA) and polycyclohexene oxide (PCHO) based polymers prepared by three different chemical methods. Characterization of synthesized materials was conducted via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X–ray spectroscopy (SEM‐EDX). Besides characterization, antibacterial and pH buffering performances of antibacterial polymers alone and on PP fabric were tested by antibacterial and pH tests. Effects of antibacterial treatments on air permeability and absorption period of nonwoven fabrics were also analyzed. According to the results, biopolymers changed the thermal stability of PP nonwoven fabric. Antibacterial performances can be ranked as cinnamaldehyde, geraniol, and phenylethyl alcohol from the best. Besides a slight decrease about liquid absorption performance, all of the treated topsheet fabrics are sufficient for an absorbent hygienic product. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48302.