ZINC CHLORIDE TREATED AND SILICONE SOFTENED COTTON FABRIC: EFFECT OF WASHING ON ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES

Cotton fabrics were treated with zinc chloride under different conditions to develop antibacterial properties. The treated and untreated cotton fabric samples were dyed with reactive dye and silicone softened by the exhaustion technique. The treated fabrics were washed 10 times to determine the retention of antibacterial properties. The selected dyed cotton fiber sample surfaces were observed by a scanning electron microscope. The experimental results of the study showed that antibacterial properties could be obtained by treatment with zinc chloride on cotton fabrics. In addition, after repeated washing of the treated cotton fabrics 10 times, the antibacterial efficiency of the related fabrics was observed at different levels. The dyeing properties of zinc chloride treated cotton fabrics will be determined in another study.