Cationic quaternary ammonium actives — benzalkonium chloride and DDAC — plus zinc pyrithione for odor-control and mildew-resist finishing of textiles.
Antimicrobial textile finishes are biocidal actives applied during finishing to limit the growth of odor-causing bacteria and fungi on fabric. RawSource sources two working classes: cationic quaternary ammonium compounds — benzalkonium chloride (BKC) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) — and the metal-organic active zinc pyrithione. The quats and the pyrithione cover different organisms, so a hygiene or odor-control finish often pairs a quat with a fungistat rather than relying on one active.
Quaternary ammonium actives carry a positive charge that adsorbs onto the anionic surfaces of cellulosic fiber and of microbial cell walls. That substantivity is also the trade-off: a quat held by physical adsorption can lose finish over repeated laundering unless it is anchored with a binder or a reactive group. Specify a wash-durability target up front. A finish rated for 5 washes and one rated for 50 are different formulations, not the same active at a different dose.
Zinc pyrithione is the usual choice where fungal control matters: footwear linings, performance wear, outdoor fabric. All three actives are registered biocides. In the US they fall under EPA FIFRA as antimicrobial pesticides and treated-article rules, and in the EU under the Biocidal Products Regulation. Treat the registered-use list, not the chemistry, as the constraint, and confirm regulatory status for your application and jurisdiction before you formulate.
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