Modification of carbon black pigment: Cotton fabric colouring and anti-bacterial finishing

Functional polymer modified carbon black (CB) pigment (P-(DMC- co -CHPMA)- g -MPTS/CB) with reactive epoxy and quaternary ammonium groups was designed and prepared via a thiol-ene click chemistry reaction, and its dispersion ability in the aqueous phase, as well as its colouring and anti-bacterial properties for cotton fabrics, were investigated. In considering both dispersion ability and reactive ability to cotton fabric, the mole ratio of the monomers (methacrylatoethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride [DMC] and 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate [CHPMA]) was discussed. Morphology and chemical properties of P-(DMC- co -CHPMA)- g -MPTS/CB were tested by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, resulting in a weight content of copolymer (DMC- co -CHPMA) in P-(DMC- co -CHPMA)- g -MPTS/CB of ca . 18%. P-(DMC- co -CHPMA)- g -MPTS/CB was fixed onto cotton fabric via a nucleophilic-substituted reaction between reactive epoxy groups on the CB surface and the hydroxyl groups of cotton fabric, which endowed good fastness to cotton fabric without either a fixing or an adhesive agent. Also, coloured cotton fabric demonstrated excellent anti-bacterial activity towards Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7.