Performance of N‐Halamine‐Based Self‐Decontaminating Fabric Finish With <scp>UV</scp> Absorber Nanoparticles for Medical Gown and Military Uniforms

ABSTRACT Protective clothing can help protect wearers from biological hazards; however, contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE) can lead to widespread pathogen transmission. Having a self‐decontaminating PPE that can deactivate pathogens upon contact is an ideal solution to limit cross‐contamination. In this study, a biocidal finish for front liners' protective clothing was prepared using N‐halamine as the antimicrobial agent. The primary objectives were to optimize the halogenation condition of the N‐halamine finish, increase the UV stability of the N‐halamine active compound, and assess its impact on fabric performance and durability under use conditions. Chlorine was selected as the most effective halogen for the active compound due to its ease of application, availability, and antimicrobial efficacy. Since the nitrogen‐halogen bond in N‐halamine compounds is sensitive to UV radiation, UV absorber nanoparticles were added to the finish to improve the durability of the biocidal functionality. The addition of these nanoparticles did not prevent UV degradation of the biocidal compound but achieved a higher initial chlorine loading. The optimized application conditions displayed remarkable antibacterial efficiency, with bacterial elimination exceeding 99.999% for Escherichia coli and 99.68% for Staphylococcus aureus . These findings offer a foundation for the development of antimicrobial PPE to improve the safety of frontline personnel.