Preparation and Properties of Antibacterial Coatings on Nonwoven Fabrics by Magnetron Sputtering Silver Technology

Nano-silver, with broad antimicrobial spectrum, high safety and long-lasting properties, is widely used in medical products. This study aims to deposit nano-silver coatings on nonwoven fabrics using high vacuum direct current magnetron sputtering technology to enhance the antibacterial performance of the nonwoven fabrics. Experiments were conducted by varying sputtering time and power to prepare samples. A scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, and X-ray diffraction were used to analyse the microstructure and elemental composition of the samples. The antimicrobial performance against E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans strains was tested using the shaking flask method. The results showed that the deposition amount and thickness of silver nanoparticles increased with increasing sputtering time or power, and the particle structure transitioned from discontinuous to continuous. X-ray diffraction indicated that the coating had a crystalline structure, with the Ag diffraction peak at 2θ = 38.303°. The antibacterial efficacy of all samples exceeded 99%.