• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.39-56
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• 2008

A wide variety of materials including aldehydes, cationic agents, alcohols, peroxygens, phenols and chlorinated phenols, metal ions are being employed as biocides. Among three levels for biocidal functions (sanitization, disinfection and sterilization), disinfection is an enough level for antimicrobial textiles. In terms of antimicrobial agents for textile applications, quaternary ammonium salts (QAS), chitosan, metal and metal salts, N-halamine based materials are developed with numerous research and the positive ions of those materials may result in disinfection of microorganisms. Photocatalysts, especially titanium dioxide (titania) produces the hydroxyl radical (${\cdot}\;OH$) which causes inactivation of microorganisms after UV radiation, have been used for antimicrobial applications.