Technological Opportunities for the Implementation of Anti-Microbial Activities into Dry-Wet Shaped Cellulose Fibres

Metal cations are valuable antimicrobial additives for controlling of bacteria growth on textile fibres. By means of multiple actions they are able to suppress the undesirable microbe action also during wound healing. Dry-wet shaping technology offers numerous opportunities for implementation of antimicrobial activities into textile structures (fibres, yarn, fabrics). The degree of load, insertion step as well as type of additive (Ag, Cu, Zn) presents a broad field of physical modification of dry-wet spun cellulose fibres. The investigation of antimicrobial activities of manufactured fibres and yarns exhibit bactericide or bacteriostatic effects against typical pathogenic germs. Ag contents higher than 30 ppm in fibres and 0.06 per cent in yarns as well as Cu contents higher than 100 ppm in fibres and about 0.5 per cent in yarns are fairly effective for a permanent antimicrobial effect. Fabrics based on the developed fibres and yarns could already been successfully commercialised by innovative small and medium sized enterprises (SME).