Elastic bands antimicrobial functionalization

Abstract

Sustainability of textile products encompasses the extension of their useful life period during which they adequately serve their intended purpose. Antimicrobial finishings can prevent microbial damage and extend textile lifespan. Even though the functionalization and characterization processes have been thoroughly described for woven, knitted and non-woven textiles, there is a lack of information regarding elastic bands or elastic straps. These materials comprise notable concentrations of elastane (EL). Here, three elastic bands: woven flat (WF), knitted flat (KF) and braided (BD), were functionalized using two commercial antimicrobial finishings: RUCO-BAC AGP (RUCO-BAC) and FRESH EF 4850 (FRESH). Elastic band mechanical properties were assessed up to 50 washing cycles (wc). Interestingly, the tensile strength performance was only clearly impacted in WF elastic bands. Elongation was enhanced after functionalization, and no obvious loss of elongation was observed, even after 50 wc. Elasticity recovery (ER) was almost ubiquitously affected after functionalization with both antimicrobial finishing products, in particular after 50 wc. Nevertheless, all ER values were above 70%. Weak decontaminate to moderate disinfectant activity was observed in pristine elastic bands against the tested microorganisms: MS2 bacteriophage, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, it was inexistant after a single wc, thus it was hypothetically attributed to paraffin applied during the knitting process. Elastic bands functionalized through padding using RUCO-BAC displayed moderate against MS2 and S. aureus. Its washing fastness was excellent against MS2, exhibiting a nearly constant activity after 1, 5, 10 and 20 wc. However, its activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was seriously hindered after a single wc.