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Today’s consumer demands high-performance fabrics. Antimicrobial, antiodor & preservative treatments are in high demand. The application methods of high-performance on fabrics are not always absolute. Finding the appropriate application choice requires specialist knowledge and training. Questions frequently asked of our Cotton Incorporated specialists are:
- What is an antimicrobial and what does it do?
Antimicrobials are chemicals that kill bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. Most antimicrobials for textiles act primarily against bacteria (antibacterial). These chemicals may be applied to the surface of the fabric, incorporated into a fiber during spinning, or be a natural effect of the fiber. Some chemistries are durable to home laundering by means of bonds to the fabric and do not need to be renewed and do not get used up (non-leaching). Other types release the agent so that eventually all is used and may not be durable to laundering or may need to be renewed (leaching).
- Is antimicrobial the same as anti-odor?
Not necessarily; antimicrobials can help control some odors that are attributed to the bacterial decomposition of sweat and surface particles on the skin. This is the basis for the “protection from odor” claim allowed by the Treated Article Exemption. Other anti-odor finishes function by trapping, masking or neutralizing odor molecules.
- Are there any regulations governing use? What are the rules?
Yes, the EPA identifies antimicrobials as pesticides and regulates the use under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Extensive testing and registration of the chemical and the end product is needed if health or some other types of benefits are claimed. EPA has published a Treated Article Exemption, which allows end products to make some claims such as protection from odor or product degradation, without registration of the end product if two conditions are met. The chosen antimicrobial must be registered with EPA and the chemical must be approved for use on that specific end product.
- What tests are used?
AATCC has several test methods for determining the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments on textile products. AATCC TM 147 is a qualitative test for antibacterial activity on fabric. AATCC TM 100 is a quantitative test that counts the number of bacteria on the fabric after a 24-hr exposure. Treatments that control bacterial growth are bacteriostatic; finishes that kill bacteria are bactericidal. Other tests exist for carpets and fungi. These tests are complicated to do and to interpret. Some relatively minor allowable changes can help the test work better or prevent the test from working at all.
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