Antibacterial para-aramid fiber loaded with in situ generated silver nanoparticles

The present work provides a simple and effective method for preparing antibacterial aramid fiber that can be used in personal protection equipment that requires antibacterial function. Antibacterial aramid fiber was prepared by loading silver ions though ultrasonic swelling and then reducing the silver ions in situ to generate silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The morphology and structure of the prepared fibers were studied by FT-IR, XPS, XRD, and SEM. The results show that the Ag NPs have spherical or ellipsoidal shapes in the fiber, and most are about 10–20 nm in diameter. The fiber maintains good thermal and mechanical properties after incorporating the Ag NPs, and the inhibition rate of the antibacterial fiber is more than 99% against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).