Odor of Sportswear Made of Polyester and Its Deodorant/Antibacterial Processing ~ Effect of Acid-Processed Polyester Fabric on Skin pH and Odor ~
【Supercategory：7. DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Subcategory：7.38 Vol.38】
ABSTRACT
Sportswear made of polyester has an odor problem due to the absorption of sweat odorous substances which could not be removed by washing. Some bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus are normally present on human skin. When sweated, malodorous smell is generated due to the decomposition of sweat by bacteria. When the skin pH is increased from weakly acidic to alkaline side due to perspiration, Staphylococcus aureus will grow and cause not only odor but also itching and eczema on skin. Thus if a sportswear could maintain skin pH weakly acidic during sweating, the activity of Staphylococcus aureus could be suppressed and reduce malodor. In this study, we prepared weak-acidic polyester fiber by processing polyester fiber with malic acid or acetic acid, and the fabric made of this weak-acidic polyester fiber was evaluated in terms of the deodorant/antibacterial properties and the effect on skin. Two types of weak-acidic polyester fibers were tested on skin, and confirmed that polyester processed with malic acid (weak-acidic polyester) has no adversely effect on skin. The skin pH was found to be kept weak-acidic even after hard perspiration when a subject put on a T-shirt made of weak-acidic polyester. The weak-acidic polyester has high antibacterial property against Staphylococcus aureus, and high deodorant effect against ammonia, a model malodor of sweat.
DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.38/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE
Sportswear made of polyester has an odor problem due to the absorption of sweat odorous substances which could not be removed by washing. Some bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus are normally present on human skin. When sweated, malodorous smell is generated due to the decomposition of sweat by bacteria. When the skin pH is increased from weakly acidic to alkaline side due to perspiration, Staphylococcus aureus will grow and cause not only odor but also itching and eczema on skin. Thus if a sportswear could maintain skin pH weakly acidic during sweating, the activity of Staphylococcus aureus could be suppressed and reduce malodor. In this study, we prepared weak-acidic polyester fiber by processing polyester fiber with malic acid or acetic acid, and the fabric made of this weak-acidic polyester fiber was evaluated in terms of the deodorant/antibacterial properties and the effect on skin. Two types of weak-acidic polyester fibers were tested on skin, and confirmed that polyester processed with malic acid (weak-acidic polyester) has no adversely effect on skin. The skin pH was found to be kept weak-acidic even after hard perspiration when a subject put on a T-shirt made of weak-acidic polyester. The weak-acidic polyester has high antibacterial property against Staphylococcus aureus, and high deodorant effect against ammonia, a model malodor of sweat.
DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.38/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE
| Researcher | Chiyomi Mizutani*1, Yutaka Kawanoue*1, Yasuhiro Hirano*1, Ryouji Hirota*2 |
|---|---|
| University or institution | *1 Department of Clothing and Textiles, Otsuma Women's University, *2 Kochi Medical School |
Keywords
Weak-acidic polyester, Sportswear, Skin pH, Staphylococcus aureuss, Deodorant antibacterial property