Antimicrobial activity of hydrophobic cotton coated with N‐halamine

γ‐(β‐Hydroxy‐γ‐5,5‐dimethylhydatoin)‐propyltriethoxysilane, a N‐halamine precursor, was synthesized with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane and 3‐glycidyl‐5,5‐dimethylhydantoin. The N‐halamine precursor was tethered to the cotton fabric through ether linkages. The treated fabrics can be rendered excellent antimicrobial activity through a bleaching process. It can inactivate 100% of the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7 with a contact time of 10 min and 30 min, respectively. Over 30% of the chlorine could be regained after the equivalent of 50 machine washes and rechlorination. The coatings resulted in a significant increase of hydrophobicity of cotton samples. In addition, the wrinkle recovery angle of the treated fabrics increased to some degree. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.