Grafted antimicrobial cotton fabrics with N-halamine groups via atom transfer radical polymerization

An N -halamine precursor 2-(3-(6-methyl-4-oxo-1,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-yl)ureido)ethyl methacrylate (SCMHBMA) was synthesized and grafted on cotton fabrics via atom transfer radical polymerization for antibacterial function after chlorination. The preparation and chlorinated cotton fabrics (Cotton-g-PSMA-Cl) were characterized with FTIR, XPS, SEM, and TGA. The properties of prepared Cotton-g-PSMA-Cl, including thermal property, antibacterial efficiency, durability, and stability, were systematically evaluated. The results showed that these chlorinated Cotton-g-PSMA-Cl fabrics possessed excellent antibacterial activity against E. coli. and S. aureus . After 10 washing cycles and 60 days of routine storage, active chlorine concentrations (Cl + %) were reduced only 22% and 18%, respectively, and the reduced Cl + % effectively reverted by simple rechlorination. This new N -halamine antibacterial cotton composite with superior antibacterial properties exhibited potential for future application in the long-term antibacterial field. Graphic abstract