Carolyn Burney, operations director – Technical Projects at MSL Solution Providers, explains more about antiviral textiles and how they can help prevent infection.
The textile industry is one of the oldest industrial sectors in the world, but also one of the most innovative. Up until the 20th century, textiles were produced exclusively with natural materials such as cotton, hemp, and flax; thereafter synthetic fibres were invented and hugely broadened the application range of textile materials. In the past few decades, R&D has continued to develop pioneering materials, increasing the number of performances the garments we now wear with beneficial properties. For example, anti-wrinkle garments, natural stretch, or fabrics that offer superior oil and water repellence, high durability, and stain-release performance are now commonplace.
In recent years, many types of fabric, from clothing and bed sheets to face masks, have also been developed with protective effects for health and hygiene. The demand for such textiles has increased phenomenally this year as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic and consumers search for products that will minimise their chances of transmitting infection. Indeed, one report predicted that apparel and accessories inspired by personal protective equipment (PPE) could be a US$10bn to US$20bn opportunity for the fashion industry [1].
Antiviral textile treatments can reduce the number of infective virus particles that can survive on a fabric’s surface
What are antiviral textiles?
Textile products with antiviral properties are the result of a fusion of textile technology and biotechnology. In essence, they can reduce the number of infective virus particles that can survive on a fabric’s surface.
An antiviral textile is a fabric that has had a special coating applied to its surface to prevent the growth of and kill different types of viruses. There are various types of antiviral textiles, from chemical treatments to fabrics impregnated or woven with silver and copper. Whilst these are not a substitute for PPE, they are perceived as an additional layer of performance. With a global focus on health and hygiene, antiviral textiles are likely to become increasingly popular.
But in order for companies to make any marketing claims, the fabric must undergo laboratory testing to determine its antiviral activity, prove its efficacy and, critically during the current times, reassure that it is effective against coronavirus.
Many types of fabric are now being developed with protective effects for health and hygiene
ISO 18184: Determining antiviral activity
In Europe, any textile product claiming antiviral features is required to get the ISO 18184:2019 certification. This standard provides a quantitative method to assess the antiviral performance of textile products. Suitable materials for this test include woven and knitted fabrics, fibres, yarns, braids etc. Very thick or absorbent products (such as carpets, which cannot be removed from the backing) may not be suitable for testing by this method.
The method involves placing a small amount of virus on the treated and untreated fabric for a specific contact time, according to ISO 18184 procedures. At the end of the test, the amount of virus surviving on the treated and untreated control fabric is recovered and the reduction rate is calculated. This is expressed as a percentage reduction on the test report. This test data can then be used to report the specific antiviral activity of a product (labelled ISO 18184).
A new click and book service
Unsurprisingly, there has been a sharp increase for the ISO18184 test recently. To make it easier for companies to test the antiviral properties of their fabrics, MSL Solution Providers has launched a new Click and Book service. The booking process is incredibly straightforward. The customer simply chooses the date they would like to receive their report and must send their sample textiles within seven days of reserving this. The MSL experts will then perform the test in its in-house microbiological laboratory and submit the technical report on the agreed date.
This test is readily available for the following viruses: influenza H3N2, influenza H1N1, feline calicivirus, vaccinia virus, and feline coronavirus. Feline coronavirus is a surrogate organism for SARS-CoV2 (Covid-19). It is widely accepted that products or textiles which demonstrate antiviral efficacy against this strain are also effective against other coronaviruses, including the virus causing Covid-19.
As specialists in microbiological testing, MSL Solution Providers has already performed the ISO18184 test for hundreds of clients. HeiQ is just one of the companies that has worked with MSL.
HeiQ develops technologies that are added to the fabric during the final stage of the textile manufacturing process. The antiviral efficacy of the treated textile is then tested to prove it delivers the intended performance. The experts at MSL were able to assess how the coating operates on different formats, by testing it on a variety of textiles. This has enabled HeiQ to claim that its coating is effective against viruses, including the coronavirus.
Ralph Salathe, director of development at HeiQ, says: “The pandemic has pushed safety and hygiene to the top of our customers’ agenda. It was important for us to be able to offer our customers a solution, which had been scientifically tested and proven to be effective against coronavirus. MSL helped us to do just that – it was an extremely smooth and quick process. After sending the textile samples, the MSL team performed the testing and provided us with a technical report confirming that the ISO18184 standard had been met. As a result, we can now reassure our customers that our product will be effective on their textiles, such as face masks, clothing and bed linen.”
In the wake of the pandemic, which is continuing to bring customers’ safety and health concerns to the forefront, it is inevitable that the antiviral fabrics market will continue to grow. It is therefore vital that businesses and manufacturers of antiviral textiles ensure their products are properly tested and certified with the ISO18184 standard to stay compliant.
For more information and to book an ISO 18184 test, visit https://test.msl.io/ or contact: textiles@msl.io.
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