Enhanced antimicrobial properties of colored PET fibers through the synergistic effects of cerium phosphate and silver nanoparticles

Public health emergency of international concern has greatly attracted consumers’ attention to textiles with sustainable personal health protection functions. Although there have been many valuable advances in the research of antibacterial textiles, there is still a slight lack of emphasis on the protective ability against fungi. Herein, an antimicrobial agent (CePO₄@Ag) composed of cerium phosphate (CePO₄) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is reported. The antimicrobial agents and pigment are pre-dispersed using a green and facile masterbatch method, followed by melt spinning to produce colored PET multifunctional fibers. The synergistic effect between CePO₄ and AgNPs in the fibers not only ensures efficient silver ion release for antimicrobial activity but also utilizes the inherent antimicrobial properties of CePO₄, thereby achieving outstanding antifungal effects with inhibition rates exceeding 99%. Importantly, the PET multifunctional fibers maintained satisfactory color-indicating properties after the incorporation of CePO₄@Ag, possessing a tinctorial strength of 102.2%. Therefore, the fabricated PET fibers combine amazing antimicrobial, color-indicating properties, and substantial mechanical strength. This work provides a facile preparation method for the colored antimicrobial textiles.

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