Russian scientists create antibacterial non-woven fabric

A team at the National University of Technology Research (NUST MISiS) and colleagues have created new technology to impart antibacterial properties to nonwovens.

According to Sputnik, this technology uses radiofrequency plasma that is discharged at low pressure to transform materials. According to the authors, the new method will be widely applied in medicine. The results of this study have just been published in the journal Materials Letters.

Antibacterial fabric product of Russian scientists.

Research aimed at imparting antibacterial properties to nonwovens began shortly after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Severe Covid-19 patients often have immunodeficiency disorders, so they can develop secondary infections. So, the Russian team of scientists wants to create an antibacterial material for the production of disposable protective clothing or bed sheets, diapers and other products. These products will help prevent disease-causing bacteria from spreading in the hospital environment.

One of the study's authors, Ilya Larin, explained to RIA Novosti: "To impart antibacterial properties to nonwovens, the material must be placed between two electrodes in a sealed container. We vacuum the air out. air out to create a vacuum or near-vacuum environment and inject the element argon into the system.To create an electromagnetic field, argon is accelerated from the cathode to the anode and 'bombarded' the fabric. to break the molecular bonds of polymer components'.

The material with antibacterial properties is then treated with a methane-argon mixture. Methane participates in the process of many small molecules (monomers) in polymers and is being used as the building block on the surface of nonwovens, binding antibacterial agents to the surface. The products are then sterilized in an autoclave.

The scientists plan to use radiofrequency discharge plasma to manufacture composite materials, improving their physical, mechanical and operational properties.

This project also involved scientists from Kazan National Research Technology University, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology and Blokhin Cancer Hospital. The study was carried out within the framework of the federal program 'Preference 2030'.