Reasons Why Use of Antimicrobial Textiles Has Reached the Peak

Antimicrobial textiles can be defined as fiber substances to which antimicrobial properties are applied and they tend to enhance the lifespan of consumer products. Use of antimicrobial agents in products is not the latest fad though.  They have long been used in furniture, wall covering, curtain bars, and several medical products such as breathing expedients.

The advantages of cleaner, sterile, and more aseptic products are obvious in the healthcare industry. In the last few years, hospitals and dental clinics have adopted millions of antimicrobial products to ensure the mandatory safety measures. And, while conventional materials such as paints and plastics have long been canned with antimicrobials, a more topical development is there in use in the form of antimicrobial textiles.

So, coming to the core benefits of antimicrobial textiles, they offer the aids for a plethora of different product types and industries. In the healthcare sector, for instance, there are innumerable unique textiles that would reap benefits from the technology, including doctors’ fleeces, bed naperies, and fabric covered seats, and so on. However, the applications of textiles are interminable beyond the healthcare industry too. Common specimens include footwear and sports clothing; and they also have their reach over other applications like pet duvet, household fixtures, bath linen, and many more.

The fact that antimicrobial textiles dole out long-term, constant protection against potentially damaging bacteria and microbes has augmented their demand substantially.  They are also quite effective against odor, blemishes, and dyes causing bacteria, thereby making sure that the appliances remain fresh and clean for longer.

Now, the question arises, how exactly the antimicrobial treatments are applied to textiles.

Manufactured out of natural fibers, textiles can be treated with an antimicrobial agent in a number of ways. Antimicrobial extracts and essences are introduced to the fiber during the metal forming process, along with dyes or pigments or put in as a finishing method. The chosen process is then determined by several aspects including final usage of the fabric, the ability of the manufacturer, and finally, the budget.

According to Allied Market Research, the global antimicrobial textiles market is anticipated to register a significant CAGR from 2020 to 2027. Increase in awareness about hygiene & health among individuals and surge in demand for sports wears with antimicrobial properties drive the growth of the market in more than one way. Simultaneously, development in the healthcare sector is expected to be highly beneficial for the key players in the industry.

Here, it’s worth mentioning that the outbreak of the pandemic has resulted in considerable rise in the research & development activities for antimicrobial textiles. For example, silver nanoparticle-combined fabric comes with the potential to knock out SARS-CoV-2 virus. This is one of the recent evolutions in regards to silver nanoparticle in Brazil. In alliance with different academes, Nanox also happened to develop a fabric with silver micromolecules built-in on its surface, with the prospect to mollify the SARS-CoV-2 virus in laboratory trials. In these checks, the material reportedly killed 99.9% of the phage just within few minutes of appliance.

Related Post