AN EXAMINATION OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CELLULOSIC HANDSHEETS TREATED WITH GLUTARALDEHYDE

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the demand for products that are considered hygienic, thereby increasing the production rate and variety of hygienic products. Researching new antimicrobial materials is gaining importance with increasing awareness of the topic of infectious diseases caused by various microorganisms. In the present work, cellulosic handsheets were produced and then coated with coatings having different glutaraldehyde concentrations by a roller bar technique. The surface water absorption capacity of the sample groups and their structural and strength characteristics were analyzed. Also, the cross-linking effect of glutaraldehyde was determined by FTIR analysis. The results not only showed that, after being exposed to glutaraldehyde on their surface, the handsheets presented a higher hydrophilic structure and higher tensile strength properties, but also confirmed that coatings containing 1–5% glutaraldehyde lessened fungal activity on their surfaces.