Photografting of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate onto cellulosic material for better antibacterial property

Linen cellulosic material was grafted with 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate(DMAEMA) using ultraviolet (UV) radiation to obtain better antibacterial property. The graft polymer was characterized and the effects of operation parameters on grafting yield and quaternization are discussed. The results showed that a maximum grafting yield of 7.26 % was obtained under the conditions standardized. It was found that an antibacterial ratio of 99 %, compared with pristine linen material, was achieved at a quaternization ratio of 70.26 %, which was supposed to be that quaternary ammonium salts with positive charges could damage the cell membrane of bacteria and kill the bacteria. The DMAEMA graft polymer increased breaking strength, rigidity and dyeability of cellulosic materials. The quaternization further enhanced dyeability of anionic reactive dyes due to more electrostatic attraction.