Synergistic Combination of Reduction and Polymerization Reactions to Prepare Silver/Waterborne Polyurethane Nanocomposite for Coating Applications

Objectives: In this paper, a novel attempt has been made to develop anionic waterborne polyurethane with antibacterial properties. Methods/Analysis: To achieve this goal, a one-pot synthesis was used to incorporate silver nanoparticles into the Waterborne Polyurethane (WPU) via a combination of reduction of silver ions and polymerization reactions. This silver/waterborne nanocomposite was applied as a modifier for preparing antimicrobial viscose fabric with enhanced coloration and fastness properties. Findings: A bacterial reduction of 100% is observed during the antibacterial activity tests of the nanocomposites for both Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) was used to confirm the formation of Ag nanoparticles in WPU. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to verify the presence of silver/waterborne composites layers. Exploration of the fastness properties and the color strength (K/S) of colored viscose fabrics were also performed. Novelty/Improvement: The obtained results can be considered as a measure of the degree of the interaction between dyes such as cationic and reactive classes and different modified surfaces.