Antimicrobial fabric masks, clothes, and gloves have become necessities, since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, people have been seeking protection against microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses.
There are many different methods of antimicrobial treatments that can be infused into the fabrics. So how do you source the best antimicrobial fabrics to manufacture your products?
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What is Antimicrobial Fabric (Antibacterial Fabric)?
Most people have the idea that antimicrobial fabrics /antibacterial fabrics are materials that kill or slow the spread of microorganisms.
Antimicrobial fabrics are the fabric that can be treated, infused, or coated with different types of antimicrobial compounds to inhibit the growth of bacteria or fungus. Bacteria and fungus tend to grow in humid environments; practically, they love to stay on the surfaces of textiles that hold moisture and heat, especially when close to the human skin. That is the reason why the body smells. Those bacteria are actually living in sweaty areas of the body.
Good antimicrobial fabric does not only need to be durable with high-performance protection of the treated textile; it has to be safe for the human body without any harm to the skin. Most importantly, the best antimicrobial fabric must be environmentally-friendly
What is Silver Ion Antimicrobial Fabric?
Using pure silver to control infections or for medical purposes were very common in ancient time. Healers and surgeons recognized the healing benefits of silver. However, nowadays, the innovative technology of Silver Ion Antimicrobial is a silver-based active compound that can be built into polymers, coatings, textiles to offer protection against bacterial growth. We are actually living with microorganisms that surrounded our environments, which can cause sickness once it makes contact with the human body.
How Do Silver Ion Antimicrobial Fabrics Work?
When we touch the bacteria or any microorganism, the antimicrobial products will release the positively charged silver ion (Ag+) and make contact with the negatively charged cells by incorporating the cell membranes. After making contact with bacteria (negatively charged cells are called bacteria), the Ag(+) starts to destroy essential bad cell functions, such as the respiratory system, energy production, and ultimately results in cell death. The Ag+ will be leaving the particles to fight with the next bacteria to continue antimicrobial performance without causing any harm to the human body.
SPORTINGTEX® Silver Ion Antimicrobial Fabric uses innovative technology, which simply delivers a small percentage of silver ions concentrated in a liquid formula to the fabric’s surface. Furthermore, it can be applied and processed with multiple textiles categories (polyester, nylon, cotton, etc.) that will provide a safe and smart fabric to control the bacteria. Another benefit is the fabric is durable, and will maintain antimicrobial protection for the life of the product. With the antimicrobial fabric of SPORTINGTEX® smart technology, brand owners and designers will experience the antimicrobial effects on their products.
Are Silver Ion Antimicrobial Textiles Safe?
Silver ion antimicrobial treatment is now commonly used in our daily life. Nanosilver particles, silver ions, and various products are available on the market as antimicrobial treatments. People might be wondering if they are used extensively? Is it safe for our health or environments? What antimicrobial product is the most effective?
Traditionally, nanosilver particles had been wildly used on textiles as particles-based technology. However, there was a controversial finding that nanosilver particles might damage human cells, not to mention the technology was costly by processing the fabric production.
SPORTINGTEX® had the concern and kept looking for new technology to process the fabrics. Our team found the revolutionary antimicrobial technology of reliable protection against bacteria that ensures the fabrics are ideally treated with a controlled release technology. The silver ion antimicrobial treatment we use is safe as the liquid dosage is small, with proper formulation can be effective ideally on different types of textiles. Moreover, the treatment is harmless to the human body; the production process results in minimal impact on our environment.
How Long Does Coronavirus Last On Clothing?
It has become mandatory in many countries that people wear a mask or protective glasses to avoid contracting viruses when going out, visiting a public area, or shopping in the supermarket. What about the clothes we wear? People might be afraid that coronavirus may stay on clothes and wonder how long the virus will stay.
The contagiousness of the model virus lasted for varying time spans on each fabric, the study conducted at De Montfort University, with infectious droplets on polyester having the longest survival rate at 72 hours. The virus on 100% cotton can be found for up to 24 hours and on polycotton for 6 hours.
❝ Our findings show that three of the most commonly used textiles in healthcare pose a risk for transmission of the virus. If nurses and healthcare workers take their uniforms home, they could be leaving traces of the virus on other surfaces. ❞
Silver Ion Antimicrobial Fabric Claims to Kill Coronavirus. Do They Actually Can?
People keep seeking all possibilities and developing new technology products constantly to offer protection against coronavirus. Antimicrobial masks, sportswear, clearance, shampoo, etc., everything antimicrobial has become the main selling products in the market.
Many of them claim their antimicrobial products kill or eliminate the coronavirus; others say their products help resist it. According to SPORTINGTEX®’s experience, bacteria can’t be 100% killed but inhibited from growth by smartly using fabric technology.
💡 How do silver ions inhibit bacterial growth?
Silver ions punch holes in bacterial membranes and wreak havoc once inside. They bind to essential cell components like DNA, blocking the bacteria from performing even their most basic functions.
Bacteria/fungus like to stay in a warm and wet environment, helping them grow and produce a thousand generations so fast. If we provide them a dry and clean area with lots of silver ions fighters, bacteria won’t have the chance to survive on the fabrics’ surface.
SPORTINGTEX® provides smart fabrics that can be designed for brand owners’ needs in antimicrobial fabric products, to any textile made of natural or synthetic materials, such as polyester, nylon, and cotton. The combination of wicking and antimicrobial technology from SPORTINGTEX® keeps the fabric product resist the bacteria’s growth and keeps the fabric in freshness most of the time. Most importantly, socially distance, wash hands regularly, and pay attention to what you heard about the Coronavirus help reduce the risk of contracting bacteria directly.
Common Applications Of Silver Ion Antimicrobial Fabric
The new technology of silver ion antimicrobial fabric from SPORTINGTEX® can be used widely in our daily life. It can be applied and processed with multiple textiles, like natural materials (i.e., Cotton) or synthetic materials (i.e., Polyester/Nylon).
In the past, it was commonly used for medical supplies (i.e., Scrubs/ wound dressing) to prevent bacteria growth. Nowadays, it is used to raise the quality of human life and particularly for the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
The most common applications of silver ion antimicrobial fabrics are sportswear, fashion garments, bedding, accessories (towels) and mask, etc. It is used in military and post officers’ uniforms as well in many countries.
Many of them claim their antimicrobial products kill or eliminate the coronavirus; others say their products help resist it. According to SPORTINGTEX®’s experience, bacteria can’t be 100% killed but inhibited from growth by smartly using fabric technology.
Where can I Buy Antimicrobial Fabric? Antimicrobial Fabric Suppliers in Asia.
SPORTINGTEX® is a well-known functional knit fabric brand, and is the best choice for antibacterial fabrics. With experience in manufacturing knitted fabric since 1990, Sun Dream Enterprise Co., Ltd (SPORTINGTEX®) was established in 1995 and engaged with international businesses. Mainly we supply our excellent quality fabric worldwide, particularly in the USA, Europe, Japan, China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. We have created value in product differentiation to meet a variety of needs through quality fabrics and services globally.
SPORTINGTEX® has researched and developed functional fabric technology for almost 30 years. For silver ion antimicrobial technology, the SPORTINGTEX® team has focused on several kinds of bacteria to develop bacterial resistant technology. As a result, SPORTINGTEX® can provide solutions to meet customer requirements, regarding the Silver Ion Antibacterial fabrics.
The benefit of choosing silver ion antimicrobial fabric from SPORTINGTEX® is that every customer is ensured to receive quality fabrics without defects. Firstly, the coloring and staining will remain stable after processing and treating the fabric. Secondly, the silver ion antimicrobial fabric remains at least 95% active after 20 times of washing. Lastly, the process of manufacturing silver ion antimicrobial fabric is eco-friendly!
The Benefits of SPORTINGTEX® Silver Ion Antimicrobial Fabric
▶ We have focused on fabric technology that is flexible even with the high percentage concentration of silver ions.
▶ The effective odor control, textile technology, and wicking function, make an excellent combination in preventing unpleasant odors, bacterial growth, and results in extended product life span.
