Cellulose fibers coated with m-aramid for medical applications

Cellulose fibers coated with an N-halamine precursor have been reported. Cellulose fibers were dipped and padded with m-aramid dissolved in N,N-dimethylacetamide followed by coagulation in distilled water. The morphology of the maramid-coated cellulose fibers was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The m-aramid on cellulose fibers was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the chlorination of m-aramid on the cellulose fibers was determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and XPS. The liquid and gas permeability of m-aramid coated fabrics were conducted. Wash fastness was performed to measure the durability of the m-aramid on the cellulose fibers. The chlorinated m-aramid-coated cellulose fibers preformed a 7-log reduction against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The chlorine lost after the bacterial inactivation could be regained after a simple re-chlorination process.