Antimicrobial And Antiviral Polymeric Master Batch, Processes For Producing Polymeric Material Therefrom And Products Produced Therefrom

1 . A polymeric master batch for preparing an antimicrobal and antifungal and antiviral polymeric material comprising a slurry of thermoplastic resin, an antimicrobal and antifungal and antiviral agent consisting essentially of water insoluble particles of ionic copper oxide, a polymeric wax and an agent for occupying the charge of said ionic copper oxide.

2 . A polymeric master batch according to claim 1 , comprising between about 4% and 83% of a thermoplastic resin, about 10%-60% on a weight basis of water insoluble particles of ionic copper oxide, between about 1% and 30% of a polymeric wax, and between about 1% and 6% of an agent for occupying the charge of said ionic copper oxide.

3 . A polymeric master batch according to claim 1 , wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of a chelating agent, and a metal deactivating agent.

4 . A polymeric master batch according to claim 1 , wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of a metal deactivating phosphite, a phenolic antioxidant, potassium iodide, potassium bromide, calcium stearate, zinc stearate, aluminium stearate, tertiary chain extenders and combinations thereof.

5 . A polymeric master batch according to claim 1 , wherein said agent is a metal deactivator.

6 . A polymeric master batch according to claim 1 , wherein said agent is a phenolic antioxidant.

7 . A polymeric master batch according to claim 1 , wherein said thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polyolefin, a nylon, a polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, an acrylic, polybutylene, polylactic acid, PTT, a silicon and mixtures thereof.

8 . A polymeric master batch according to claim 1 wherein said polymeric wax is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene wax, oxidized polyethylene wax, ionomer wax, malaeic anhydride wax, and mixtures thereof.

9 . A process for preparing an antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral polymeric material, comprising preparing a slurry of a thermoplastic resin, introducing a powder consisting essentially of water insoluble cationic copper oxides and dispersing the same in said slurry in combination with a polymeric wax and an agent for occupying the charge of said ionic copper oxide and then extruding said slurry to form a polymeric material wherein discreet water insoluble copper oxide particles that release Cu ++ are formed and incorporated therein with a portion of said particles being exposed and protruding from surfaces thereof.

10 . A process according to claim 9 , wherein said combination of ingredients is carried out with high intensity mixing for a period of about 2-10 minutes and at a temperature of between 80° C. and 150° C.

11 . A process according to claim 9 comprising combining between about 4% and 83% of a thermoplastic resin, about 10%-60% on a weight basis of water insoluble particles of ionic copper oxide, between about 1% and 30% of a polymeric wax, and between about 1% and 6% of an agent for occupying the charge of said ionic copper oxide.

12 . A process according to claim 9 wherein said agent is a chelating agent.

13 . A process according to claim 9 wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of a metal deactivating phosphyte, a phenolic antioxidant, potassium iodide, potassium bromide, calcium stearate, zinc stearate, aluminium stearate, tertiary chain extenders and combinations thereof.

14 . A process according to claim 9 , wherein said agent is a metal deactivator.

15 . A process according to claim 9 , wherein said agent is a phenolic antioxidant.

16 . A process according to claim 9 , wherein said thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polyolefin, a nylon, a polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, an acrylic, polybutylene, polylactic acid, PTT, a silicon and mixtures thereof.

17 . A process according to claim 9 wherein said polymeric wax is selected from the group consisting of consisting of homopolymers and co-polymers of polyethylene, polypropylene and lonomer waxes, and mixtures thereof.

18 . An antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral polymeric material whenever produced according to the process of claim 9 , said material being in the form of a fiber, a yarn, or a sheet and comprising an antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral agent consisting essentially of discreet water insoluble ionic copper oxide particles that release Cu ++ incorporated therein with a portion of said particles being exposed and protruding from surfaces thereof.

19 . An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 18 , wherein the ionic copper comprises a mixture of CuO and Cu 2 O.

20 . An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 18 , wherein said particles are of a size of between 1 and 10 microns.

21 . An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 18 wherein said particles are present in an amount of between 0.25 and 5% of the polymer weight.

22 . An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic resin is a single polymeric component.

23 . An antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material according to claim 18 , wherein said polymeric material is manufactured in the form of a short staple fiber.

24 . A blended yarn incorporating fibers produced according to the process of claim 18 .

25 . A bi-component yarn wherein at least one of the components is an antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material produced according to the process of claim 18 .

26 . An article of clothing incorporating a yarn which includes an antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material produced according to the process of claim 18 .

27 . A wrapping material comprising an antimicrobial polymeric material produced according to the process of claim 18 .

28 . A carpet having an antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material produced according to the process of claim 18 incorporated into a backing layer thereof.

29 . A non-woven molded product having an antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material produced according to the process of claim 18 incorporated therein.

30 . A non-woven molded product according to claim 29 wherein said product is air permeable.

31 . A non-woven molded product according to claim 29 wherein said product is liquid permeable.

32 . Textile fabrics for combating nosocomial infections in health care facilities, said fabric incorporating a fiber, a yarn, or a sheet and comprising an antimicrobial and antiviral agent consisting essentially of discreet water insoluble copper oxide particles that release Cu ++ incorporated therein with a portion of said particles being exposed and protruding from surfaces thereof whenever produced according to the process of claim 18 .

33 . The use of a polymeric material produced from a master batch according to claim 1 , for inhibition of HIV-1 proliferation.

34 . The use of a polymeric material produced from a master batch according to claim 1 for neutralizing infectious viruses.

35 . Condoms whenever produced from a master batch according to claim 1 .

36 . Catheters whenever produced from a master batch according to claim 1 .

37 . Gloves whenever produced from a master batch according to claim 1 .

38 . Non-woven fabrics whenever produced from a master batch according to claim 1 .

39 . Disposable diapers incorporating a non-woven fabric according to claim 39 .

40 . Disposable hospital and operating theatre products for combating viral infections, said products incorporating fibers produced from a master batch according to claim 1 , wherein said fibers are effective for the inactivation of viruses and fluids brought in contact therewith.

41 . Disposable hospital and operating theatre products according to claim 41 wherein said products are selected from the group consisting of disposable scrubs, barriers, clothing, masks, shoe covers and caps.

42 . Disposable hospital and operating theatre products according to claim 41 wherein said fibers are disposed in said products as randomly scattered fibers in a non-woven textile.

43 . A master batch according to claim 1 further comprising one or more pigments.

44 . A device for the inactivation of a virus comprising a housing delimiting a fluid passageway, said passageway being provided with a filtering material including polymeric fibers comprising an antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral agent consisting essentially of discreet water insoluble ionic copper oxide particles that release Cu ++ incorporated therein with a portion of said particles being exposed and protruding from surfaces thereof, wherein said fibers are produced from a master batch according to claim 1 .

45 . A device according to claim 45 , wherein said discreet ionic water insoluble copper particles are incorporated in fibers in a non-woven fabric.

46 . A device according to claim 45 for inactivating a virus found in cells in body fluids.