Antimicrobial Multicomponent Synthetic Fiber and Method of Making Same
A method of producing synthetic threads and yarns which utilize a multicomponent structure having silver in an external sheath. The threads and yarns are then texturized via a false-twist process to increase the amount of silver available at the exterior surfaces of the threads and yarns. The resultant yarns and threads are also provided.
1 . A multi-component filament comprising:
a core; and
a sheath, said sheath surrounding said core and including antimicrobial particles therein;
wherein said filament has been texturized by a false-twist process, said false-twist process increasing the amount of antimicrobial accessible at an exterior surface of said sheath.
2 . The filament of claim 1 wherein said core comprises Nylon.
3 . The filament of claim 1 wherein said sheath comprises Nylon.
4 . The filament of claim 1 wherein said core comprises polyester.
5 . The filament of claim 1 wherein said sheath comprises polyester.
6 . The filament of claim 1 wherein said antimicrobial particles comprise silver metal.
7 . The filament of claim 1 wherein said antimicrobial particles comprise silver glass.
8 . The filament of claim 7 wherein said silver glass comprises glass particles coated with silver.
9 . The filament of claim 7 wherein said silver glass comprises glass particles including silver nitrate.
10 . A filament bundle comprising a plurality of filaments of claim 1
11 . A filament bundle comprising:
a plurality of filaments, each of said filaments comprising:
a core; and
a sheath, said sheath surrounding said core and including antimicrobial particles therein;
wherein said filament bundle has been texturized by a false-twist process to increase the amount of antimicrobial accessible by a fluid in exterior surface contact with said filament bundle.
12 . The filament bundle of claim 11 wherein said core comprises nylon.
13 . The filament bundle of claim 11 wherein said sheath comprises nylon.
14 . The filament bundle of claim 11 wherein said core comprises polyester.
15 . The filament bundle of claim 11 wherein said sheath comprises polyester.
16 . The filament bundle of claim 11 wherein said antimicrobial particles comprise silver metal.
17 . The filament bundle of claim 11 wherein said antimicrobial particles comprise silver glass.
18 . The filament bundle of claim 17 wherein said silver glass comprises glass particles coated with silver.
19 . The filament bundle of claim 17 wherein said silver glass comprises glass particles including silver nitrate.
20 . A method of metalizing a synthetic filament bundle, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of synthetic filaments, each of said filaments comprising:
a core; and
a sheath, said sheath surrounding said core and including silver particles therein;
texturized said filament bundle by a false-twist process to increase the amount of silver accessible by a fluid in exterior surface contact with said filament bundle.