Deposition of silver ions onto DBD and DCSBD plasma treated nonwoven polypropylene

Abstract

The aim of this work is plasma activation of nonwoven polypropylene (PP) using two different ambient air plasma sources: volume dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge (DCSBD) and its functionalization by silver ion deposition. To assess the surface changes on the nonwoven PP due to plasma treatment scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), were used. Changes in sorption properties of the plasma treated nonwoven PP were evaluated by silver ion uptake. The antimicrobial activity of silver loaded nonwoven PP against the pathogens Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans was evaluated in vitro. The plasma treatment of PP fabrics resulted in highly improved sorption properties. The quantity of bonded silver ions was in the range from 300 to 5600 mg/kg. Obtained silver loaded nonwoven PP shows antimicrobial activity against the tested pathogens.