Antibacterial N-halamine coating on cotton fabric fabricated using mist polymerization

3-Methylallyloxy-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (MH), an methacrylate monomer containing N-halamine moiety, was synthesized by 5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DMH) and methacryloyl chloride. Antimicrobial coating of poly[1-methyl-1-(4,4-dimethyl-2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-carbonyl)ethylene] (PMH) was prepared on cotton fabrics via mist polymerization using MH as monomer. The coating gave the cotton fabric with efficient antibacterial function with remarkable durability. In the antibacterial tests, the bacteriostatic reduction rate is greater than 99.78%, and can be maintained over 99.00% even after 30 washing cycles. Compared with other antimicrobial technologies, mist polymerization offers advantages such as achieving antimicrobial function by small consumption of monomer, forming coatings on single-side of the fabrics, and minimizing the damages on the original properties of cotton during the finishing process. It can be applied in a wide variety of textile products such as sportswear, underwear, socks, and medical textiles. (C) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym.