Application Advantages of Polyhexamethylene Guanidine (PHMG) in the Textile Industry

The application of PHMG in textiles demonstrates significant advantages in long-lasting antibacterial efficacy, safety, and multifunctionality. Here's a structured analysis of its technical strengths and industry value:

1. Long-Lasting Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Performance

- PHMG achieves over 99% elimination rates against Gram-positive bacteria (e.g., *Staphylococcus aureus*), Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., *Escherichia coli*), and fungi (e.g., *Candida albicans*) by disrupting microbial cell membranes via electrostatic adsorption .

Treated textiles (e.g., underwear, towels) retain antibacterial efficacy after 120 standard washes, outperforming traditional silver-ion or quaternary ammonium-based antimicrobial agents .

2. Safety and Skin Compatibility

- Non-irritating: A 0.5% PHMG solution passes human skin patch tests, making it suitable for infantwear and sensitive-skin textiles .

Low absorption and biodegradability: PHMG's polymer structure ensures <10% human absorption and >90% biodegradability, minimizing microplastic pollution risks .

Material-friendly: Causes no corrosion to cotton, linen, or synthetic fibers, preserving ≥98% tensile strength in treated fabrics .

3. Multifunctional Benefits

- Mold and odor resistance: Reduces mildew growth in humid environments. PHMG-treated sportswear (e.g., yoga pants) shows 70% less odor after 7 days of continuous use .

Antiviral properties: Achieves 99.9% inactivation of enveloped viruses (e.g., H1N1 influenza), ideal for medical protective clothing .

Fabric preservation: Combined with resin finishing agents, PHMG reduces cotton shrinkage to <1.5% and improves color fastness by 0.5 grades .

4. Process Adaptability

- Flexible application: Compatible with immersion, spraying, or microencapsulation techniques for yarn, fabric, or finished product treatments .

- Cost efficiency: A 0.3%-0.5% concentration ensures long-term antibacterial effects, cutting costs by 40% compared to nano-silver technologies .

5. Environmental Certifications

PHMG complies with global standards, including:

- OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 (eco-textiles)

- EU REACH Regulation

- GB/T 20944.3-2008 (China's antibacterial textile standard) .

Industry Case Study

An international sportswear brand applied PHMG to antibacterial socks, achieving:

- 95% fungal inhibition after 28 days of wear

- <5% efficacy loss after 50 washes

Recommendation: Optimize concentrations based on product type (e.g., 0.1%-0.3% for padding, 0.5%-1.0% for microencapsulation) and pair with PHMG-compatible fluorine-free waterproofing agents .

PHMG's integration of safety, durability, and multifunctionality positions it as a leading choice for sustainable and high-performance textile solutions. For detailed technical specifications, refer to .