Application of Eco-friendly Antimicrobial Finish Butea monosperma Leaves on Fabric Properties of Polyester and Cotton/Polyester

The study was aimed to check the effect of eco-friendly antimicrobial finish on 100% polyesterand 50/50 cotton/polyester woven fabrics. The leaves’ extract of Butea monosperma was used as an eco-friendly antimicrobial finish. The fabric was first desized, scoured, bleached and washed then antimicrobialfinish was applied by using pad dry cure method. The aesthetic, comfort and mechanical fabrics propertieswere checked before and after applying antimicrobial finish. Under aesthetic property stiffness andsmoothness appearance was checked, under comfort related property absorbency and air permeability waschecked and under mechanical property tear and tensile strength was checked. The antimicrobial finishwas checked by using ASTEM E2149 Shake Flask method. The AATCC and ISO standard testing methodswere used for checking fabric properties. One way ANOVA statistical test was applied for analysis ofresults. Antimicrobial finish has increased aesthetic (stiffness, smoothness appearance), comfort (absorbency,air permeability) and mechanical (tensile and tear strengths) properties of polyester and cotton/polyesterfabrics. The antimicrobial finish was effective on both 100% polyester and 50/50 cotton/polyester fabricsup to 25 washes. This study is beneficial to medical industry, paramedical staff, sports wears, homefurnishing as well as common people.