Facile fabrication of durable antibacterial and anti-felting wool fabrics with enhanced comfort via novel N-phenylmaleimide finishing.

In this study, we successfully synthesized N-phenylmaleimide (NPMI) and applied it to wool fabrics to obtain robust antimicrobial properties. First, tris(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine (TCEP) was utilized as a reducing agent to produce thiol-active groups on wool fibers. These thiol groups were then reacted with the C=C group of NPMI via thiol-ene click chemistry. The morphology and structure of the finished NPMI composite wool fabric were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composite wool fabrics exhibited durable antibacterial properties against both S. aureus and E. coli and the antimicrobial rates of both E. coli and S. aureus were around 99% after one standard washing cycle, with only a slight decrease of 95% after ten standard washing cycles, respectively. In addition, the composite wool fabric exhibited good anti-felting performance and maintained its original excellent breathability and moisture permeability. The present work provides a facile and sustainable strategy for constructing durable antimicrobial wool fabrics without losing their original properties.