Measuring Silver in Antimicrobial Fabric with HDXRF^®

No one wants to make a stink. That’s why manufacturers are introducing premium innerwear and activewear using antimicrobial fabrics treated with a solution of silver ions to kill odor-causing bacteria. Fabrics treated with products such as Silvadur™ are effective as long as a minimum concentration of the silver remains after washing. The longevity of the treatment is partially based on the initial concentration applied to the fabric, so an important quality control test is to quantify the amount of silver found in the fabric. To comply with manufacturer standards of quality, a minimum concentration of silver is required based on the application, and HDXRF provides a reliable, low-cost, and non-destructive test for quality assurance programs.