Antibacterial PET Fabrics Modified with Quaternary Ammonium Functionalized Hyperbranched Polymers via Electron Beam Radiation

The numerous functional groups and dendritic structure of hyperbranched polymers render them for a wide range of applications. In this study, hyperbranched polymer Boltorn H20, containing abundant hydroxyl groups, was modified to prepare quaternary ammonium functionalized hyperbranched polymers, QAS-HPs. The synthesized QAS-HPs were coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics by electron beam radiation. The PET fabrics were endowed antimicrobial and hydrophilic properties after modification. The water contact angles of the modified PET fabrics were tested, and the results showed significant improvement in hydrophilicity. The results of antibacterial efficacy tests showed that the modified PET fabrics could inactivate 100% of Staphylococcus aureus ( S.aureus ) and 90.8% of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) with 30 min of contact time.