Antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric materials
The invention provides an antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material, having microscopic particles of ionic copper encapsulated therein and protruding from surfaces thereof.
1. Art antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material, comprising
a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, and polypropylene, and
a single anti-microbial and anti-viral component consisting essentially of microscopic water insoluble particles of copper oxide incorporated in the polymer,
wherein a portion of said particles in said polymer are exposed and protruding from the surface of the material,
and wherein said particles release Cu ++ when exposed to water or water vapor.
2. An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 1 , wherein said polymeric material is a film.
3. An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 1 , wherein said polymeric material is a fiber.
4. An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 1 , wherein said polymeric material is a yarn.
5. An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 1 , wherein said particles are of a size of between 1 and 10 microns.
6. An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 1 , wherein said particles are present in an amount of between 0.25 and 10% of the polymer weight.
7. A wrapping material comprising an antimicrobial polymeric material according to claim 1 .
8. An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 1 , wherein the particles are of a size of between 1 and 10 microns and are present in an amount of between 0.25 and 10% of the polymer weight.
9. An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 1 , wherein said polymer is polypropylene.
10. An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 1 , wherein said polymer is polyamide.
11. An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 1 , wherein said polymer is polyester.
12. A glove comprising the antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material of claim 5 .
13. A surgical tube comprising the antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material of claim 5 .
14. An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 3 , wherein the fiber is bi-component or multi-component.
15. The antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material of claim 1 , wherein said microscopic water insoluble particles of copper oxide consist of cupric oxide particles and cuprous oxide particles.
16. The antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 15 , wherein said polymeric material is a film.
17. The antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 15 , wherein said polymeric material is a fiber.
18. The antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 15 , wherein said polymeric material is a yarn.
19. The antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 15 , wherein said particles are of a size of between 1 and 10 microns.
20. The antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 15 , wherein said particles are present in an amount of between 0.25 and 10% of the polymer weight.
21. A wrapping material comprising an antimicrobial polymeric material according to claim 15 .
22. A condom comprising an antiviral polymeric material of claim 15 .
23. An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 15 , wherein said particles are of a size of between 1 and 10 microns and are present in an amount of between 0.25 and 10% of the polymer weight.
24. A glove comprising the antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material of claim 15 .
25. A surgical tube comprising the antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material of claim 15 .
26. A glove comprising an antiviral polymeric material according to claim 1 .
27. The glove of claim 26 wherein said microscopic water insoluble particles of copper oxide comprise cupric oxide particles and cuprous oxide particles.
28. Surgical tubing comprising an antiviral polymeric material according to claim 1 .
29. The surgical tube of claim 28 wherein said microscopic water insoluble particles of copper oxide comprise cupric oxide particles and cuprous oxide particles.
30. A condom comprising an antiviral polymeric material, said material comprising
a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, and polypropylene, and a single anti-microbial and anti-viral component consisting essentially of microscopic water insoluble particles of copper oxide incorporated in the polymer,
wherein a portion of said particles in said polymer are exposed and protruding from the surface of the material,
and wherein said particles release Cu ++ when exposed to water or water vapor.
31. An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material, consisting essentially of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, and polypropylene, and a single anti-microbial and anti-viral component consisting essentially of microscopic water insoluble particles of copper oxide incorporated in the polymer, wherein a portion of said particles in said polymer are exposed and protruding from the surface of the material, and wherein said particles release Cu ++ when exposed to water or water vapor.
32. The polymeric material of claim 31 , wherein said polymer is polypropylene.
33. The polymeric material of claim 31 , wherein said polymer is polyamide.
34. The polymeric material of claim 31 , wherein said polymer is polyester.