In the present day world most of us are very conscious about our hygiene and cleanliness. Now a days Textile materials facing commonly mold problem during in store, in packed garment or in shipment container are not only related to microorganisms such as pathogenic bacteria, odour generating bacteria and mould fungi, but also good media for growth of microorganisms.
2. Mold in Textiles
In the present day world most of us are very conscious
about our hygiene and cleanliness. Now a days Textile
materials facing commonly mold problem during in
store, in packed garment or in shipment container are
not only related to microorganisms such as pathogenic
bacteria, odour generating bacteria and mould fungi,
but also good media for growth of microorganisms.
Mold, mildew, fungus, yeast, and bacteria
(microorganisms) are part of our surrounding
environment and also everyday lives.
Mold (or mould) is a term used to refer to fungi
that grow in the form of multicellular thread-like
structures called hyphae. European Textile Chemical
Corporation
3. Mold in Textiles
Mildew is a form of fungus. Mildew is a surface
fungi that can easily be identified as a patch of gray
or even white fungus that is lying on the surface of a
moist area.
Fungus (fungi) is any member of the group of
eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms
such as yeasts and molds.
Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms
classified as members of the fungus kingdom.
Bacteria (bacterium) are very small organisms. They
are prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few
micrometres in length, bacteria have a number of
shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals.
European Textile Chemical
Corporation
4. Ideal Conditions For mold Growth
Warm temperature
Moisture (Humidity 70-80%, Spills)
Receptive surface (skin, fabric)
Sources of mold
In the air we breathe
In the soil
In our skin and bodies & Everywhere
Synthetic fibres are not totally immune to microorganisms,
for example; polyurethane fibres and coatings can be
damaged.
Wool is more likely to suffer bacterial attack than cotton, and
cotton is more likely than wool to be attacked by fungi.
Mold in Textiles
European Textile Chemical Corporation
5. Reasons of mold in textile
Available starch in various fabrics.
Courser and compact fabric has a
greater tendency to form mold rather
than finer fabric.
Especially indigo dyed garment has a
tendency to grow Fungus.
European Textile Chemical
Corporation
6. Precaution for mold
Precaution
Keep fabric or garment in dry condition
Try to avoid moisture
Avoid humidal moisture
Control temperature
Check time to time humidity available in
various fabrics.
Mold and Fungi cause multiple problems to textiles including
discoloration, coloured stains, and fibre damage.
Bacteria are not as damaging to fibres, but can produce
some fibre damage,
unpleasant odours and a slick, slimy feel.
European Textile Chemical
Corporation
7. Treatment to avoid mold formulation
Putting up ultraviolet light to kill the
fungus
Maintain the temperature of the
room or area
Control of the humidity of the place
or area
Put to the pack garment into a air
proof plastic bag avoid humidity
during packing area
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Corporation
8. Latest technology to control anti mold
or fungi
Anti Mold Finish (EUROSOFT AOAM )
It is a chemical finish have been used to
produce fibers, textiles or garments with
demonstrable anti mold properties. The
chemical is specially developed anti-
microbial organic hydrophilic softener to
prevent malodor from packed garments,
developed due to microbial growth. A
treatment with EUROSOFT AOAM protect
the substrate from developing mal-odor
while storage and transport. European Textile Chemical
Corporation
9. Applying technique of Anti Mold
Finishing
Treated at yarn stage
Treated at fabric stage
Treated after garment processing
Standard moisture content of
fabric supposed to be 8-10%. If
moisture content increases need
more dose of biological softener.
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Corporation
10. Application of EUROSOFT AOAM
For softening and Odor/Mold preventing from
garments
Eurosoft AOAM 3.0-5.0 gpl
Adjust pH to 5.0-6.0
Temperature 30-40ᵒC
Time 10-15 minutes
For Disinfection of Hospital/Domestic Linen
Eurosoft AOAM 1.0-2.0 gpl
Adjust pH to 5.0-6.0
Temperature – Ambient Time
Time 10-15 minutes
European Textile Chemical
Corporation
11. Application
For application of soft flow machine
Eurosoft AOAM 3.0-5.0 gpl
Adjust pH to 5.0-6.0
Temperature – Ambient Time
Time 10-15 minutes
M:L - 1:3/5
For application in padding process
Eurosoft AOAM 20.0-40.0 gpl
Adjust pH to 5.0-6.0
Expression 55-50%
Temperature – 110ᵒC
Drying Time 2-3 minutes
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Corporation
12. Evaluation of anti mold finishes
Test
method
Test name Advantage Disadvantage
AATCC
100
Antibacterial finishes
on textile materials
Quantitative,
Sensitive,
realistic
Time consuming
AATCC 30 Antifungal activity,
assessment of textile
materials: Mildew and
rot resistance textile
materials.
Semi
quantitative,
Agar diffusion
tests
Not fully
realistic
AATCC
147
Antibacterial
assessment of textile
materials: Parallel
streak methods
Quick, easily,
inexpensive
Non realistic,
Non
quantitative,
Non
reproducible
AATCC
174
Antimicrobial activity
assessment of carpets;
qualitative and
quantitative
Only for carpet
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13. Comparison of test report (AATCC
100:2012)
Substrate Protocol Tests Result (%)
Untreated fabric Klebsiella
pneumonia
(ATCC4352)
% reduction of
K.pneumoniae
No reduction
observed
Staphylococc
us
aureus(ATCC
6538)
% reduction of
S.aureus
No reduction
observed
Treated with
EUROSOFT
AOAM
Klebsiella
pneumonia
(ATCC4352)
% reduction of
K.pneumoniae
99.9
Staphylococc
us
aureus(ATCC
6538)
% reduction of
S.aureus
99.9
European Textile Chemical Corporation
15. Test Result
Test
metho
d
Test protocol Result
AATC
C 100
% reduction of
K.pneumoniae
in %
100(B – A)/B = R
R = % reduction
A = the number of bacteria recovered from the inoculated treated test specimen swatches in
the jar incubated over the desired contact
period
B = the number of bacteria recovered from the inoculated treated test
specimen swatches in the jar immediately after inoculation (at
“0” contact time)
% reduction of S.aureus in %
100(B – A)/B = R
R = % reduction
A = the number of bacteria recovered from the inoculated treated test specimen swatches in
the jar incubated over the desired contact
period
B = the number of bacteria recovered from the inoculated treated test
specimen swatches in the jar immediately after inoculation (at
“0” contact time)
AATC
C 30
Aspergillus Niger (ATCC
6275)
Rating scale 0-2 and each number represents the degree of the mould growth observed on
the surface of the specimen.
0- No growth on surface of the specimen.
1-Growth only apparent under microscope (microscopic growth)
2- Mould growth on surface of the specimen (microscopic growth)
SGS
IHTM
Total plate count Colonies/sq cm
Yeast and Mold Colonies/sq cm European Textile Chemical Corporation
16. Microbial infestation poses
danger to both living and non-
living matters.
No fungus in a single garment.
A treatment with EUROSOFT
AOAM can ensure you no mold
in your garment from today.
European Textile Chemical Corporation