Wetting and wicking of hospital protective textiles

Abstract

Moisture management, as one of the key performance criteria in terms of fabric comfort, specifically on cotton fabrics intended for use in a hospital environment, was investigated in this paper. For this purpose, commercial cotton fabrics for surgical gowns and hospital linen were used, as well as standard cotton fabrics treated with various cationic antimicrobial protection agents. The antimicrobial properties were achieved by cationization with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl-trimethyl ammonium chloride, or reactive polyammonium compounds Rewin OS; and by treatment with quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), N-cetylpyridinium chloride (N-CPC) and cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB), which act as surfactants and antiseptics. Standard cotton fabric has excellent hydrophilicity, fast absorption and spreading, large spreading area and good one-way transport. It is characterized as Moisture management fabric. Hospital white linen fabric has a water repellent finish; however, it is breathable and can be characterized as a Water penetration fabric. Hospital green fabric for gowns and instrument covers, due to dyestuff blocking the active groups have smaller absorption, and is characterized as Fast absorbing and quick drying fabric. Cotton fabrics have negative zeta potential. Cationization change surface charge, as well as antimicrobial activity. In MMT both cationized cotton fabrics are characterized as Fast absorbing and quick drying fabric, as they have fast wetting, absorption and spreading, a large spreading area, but poor one-way transport. For the QAC treated fabrics this effect is more enhanced. However, these fabrics have excellent antimicrobial activity even after desorption. Based on the results of wetting and wicking, zeta potential and antimicrobial activity, CPB treatment is proposed for the processing of cotton fabrics.