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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #189795
Title: TESTING FOR ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF COTTON/FLAX DENIM

Author
item Chun, David
item Foulk, Jonn
item McAlister Iii, David

Submitted to: Industrial Crops and Products
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/2008
Publication Date: 3/5/2009
Citation: Chun, D.T., Foulk, J.A., Mcalister III, D.D. 2009. TESTING FOR ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF COTTON/FLAX. Industrial Crops and Products. 29:371-376.

Interpretive Summary: The AATCC Test Method 100-1999, "Antibacterial Finishes on Textile Materials: Assessment of," was adapted to the resources available to our laboratory. The general method for assessing the antibacterial tendency of fabric made from flax and cotton blends will be described as well as the results from these tests. The role of drying flax-cotton denim blends on antibacterial tendency was also tested and the results will be presented. While antimicrobioal properties were expected with increased flax content, no strong significant antibacterial properties could be measured.

Technical Abstract: The AATCC Test Method 100-1999,"Antibacterial Finishes on Textile Materials: Assessment of", was adapted to the resources available to our laboratory in order to measure the antimicrobial properties of fabric made from flax and cotton blends. The general method for assessing the antibacterial tendency of fabric made from flax and cotton blends will be described as well as the results from these tests. The role of drying flax-cotton denim blends on antibacterial tendency was also tested and the results will be presented. When no strong significant differences were found, even when a drying factor was included, the test method was checked against fabrics known to exhibit antibacterial properties. Here the test method was found to be very sensitive which suggests that what antibacterial properties the raw flax material may have had, did not carry through conversion to yarn and fabric.