Influence of process variables on antimicrobial properties of cotton knitted fabrics

Abstract

This work discusses the influence of process variables on antimicrobial properties of cotton single jersey knitted fabrics. The antimicrobial process variables are optimized based on the Box-Benken experimental design using design-expert software 8.0 to predict the optimum process parameter for achieving the required level of antimicrobial properties. The effects of process parameters such as yarn count, loop length, and finishing % of the zone of inhibition (ZOI) against the Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus microbes on cotton knitted fabric have been carried out. Result shows that except yarn count other parameters are not significant toward the ZOI against microbes.

Keywords

• antimicrobial
• cotton
• finishing
• knitted fabrics
• loop length
• yarn count
• zone of inhibition (zoi)