PROTECTIVE ARTICLE AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF
An article comprises a first layer which includes a substrate and a nucleophilic organic polymer cross-linked on a surface of or within the substrate. The cross-linked nucleophilic polymer comprises functional groups operative to form a covalent bond with a chemical or biological agent. The first layer also includes reactive particles located on a surface of or within the substrate.
1 . An article comprising:
a first layer comprising:
a substrate;
a nucleophilic organic polymer cross-linked on a surface of or within the substrate, wherein the cross-linked nucleophilic polymer comprises functional groups operative to form a covalent bond with a chemical or biological agent;
and reactive particles located on a surface of or within the substrate.
2 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the nucleophilic organic polymer is cross-linked using a polyamide-epichlorohydrin cross-linking agent.
3 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the nucleophilic organic polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethyleneimine, polyamines, polyvinyl alcohols, polyesters, polyamides, polyalkylene glycol derivatives, amine-substituted polyethylene and polypropylene glycols, polyacrylates, functionalized olefin polymers, copolymers of polyvinylamine and polyvinylalcohol, and a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing nucleophilic polymers.
4 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a porous polymer substrate.
5 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises polytetrafluoroethylene, poly(vinylidene fluoride), poly(vinylidene fluoride co-hexafluoropropylene), poly(tetrafluoroethylene oxide-co-difluoromethylene oxide, poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoro(propylvinyl ether)), or a combination thereof.
6 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the reactive particles comprise silver, gold, platinum, palladium, iridium, tin, copper, anitmony, bismuth, zinc, or a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing metals.
7 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the reactive particles comprise silver oxide, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, copper oxide, copper-aluminum oxide, cerium oxide, zinc oxide or a combination thereof.
8 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the reactive particles have an average diameter in a range between about 1 nm and about 10 microns.
9 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the reactive particles are dispersed within the nucleophilic organic polymer.
10 . The article of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second layer that comprises a porous polymer substrate, wherein the second layer is in contact with the first layer.
11 . The article of claim 10 , further comprising:
a third layer that comprises a woven or a non-woven fabric layer, wherein the third layer is in contact with the second layer.
12 . The article of claim 1 , further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of antimicrobial agents, enzymes with activity for chemical and/or biological agents, chemical absorbing agents, and a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing additives.
13 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the chemical absorbing agent is activated carbon or a metal absorbing framework.
14 . A method of manufacturing an article comprising:
crosslinking a nucleophilic organic polymer on a surface of or within a substrate, wherein the cross-linked nucleophilic polymer comprises functional groups operative to form a covalent bond with a chemical or biological agent; and
disposing reactive particles on a surface of or within the substrate;
wherein the nucleophilic organic polymer, reactive particles and substrate form a first layer.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising disposing a second layer upon a surface of the first layer; the second layer comprising a porous polymer substrate.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising disposing an additive on the second layer, wherein the additive is an antimicrobial agent, an enzyme with activity for neutralizing a chemical and/or a biological agent, or a chemical absorbing agent.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising disposing a third layer upon a surface of the second layer, wherein the second layer is disposed between the first layer and the third layer.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the third layer comprises a fabric, and wherein the fabric is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, cotton, aramids, and a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing fabrics.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the nucleophilic organic polymer is cross-linked using a polyamide-epichlorohydrin cross-linking agent.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the nucleophilic organic polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethyleneimine, polyamines, polyvinyl alcohols, polyesters, polyamides, polyalkylene glycol derivatives, amine-substituted polyethylene and polypropylene glycols, polyacrylates, functionalized olefin polymers, copolymers of polyvinylamine and polyvinylalcohol, and a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing nucleophilic polymers.
21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the substrate comprises polytetrafluoroethylene, poly(vinylidene fluoride), poly(vinylidene fluoride co-hexafluoropropylene), poly(tetrafluoroethylene oxide-co-difluoromethylene oxide, poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoro(propylvinyl ether)), or a combination thereof.
22 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the reactive particles comprise silver, gold, platinum, palladium, iridium, tin, copper, anitmony, bismuth, zinc, or a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing metals.
23 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the reactive particles comprise silver oxide, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, copper oxide, copper-aluminum oxide, cerium oxide, zinc oxide or a combination thereof.
24 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the reactive particles have an average diameter in a range between about 1 nm and about 10 microns.
25 . An article manufactured by the method of claim 14 .