Anti-microbial polymer compositions, fibers, and yarns
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates the polymer compositions, fibers, and yarns having near-permanent antimicrobial activity, and a method of producing the same. In one embodiment, the antimicrobial polymer composition from 50 wt % to 99.9 wt % of a polymer, from 5 wppm to 1000 wppm of zinc, and from 0.005 wt % to 1 wt % of phosphorus, wherein fibers formed from the polymer composition demonstrate a zinc retention rate of greater than 20% when tested in a dye bath test.
1. A polymer composition having antimicrobial properties, the composition comprising:
from 50 wt % to 99.9 wt % of a thermoplastic polymer,
a zinc compound comprising zinc oxide, zinc pyrithione, or zinc ammonium adipate, or combinations thereof, and
benzene phosphinic acid;
wherein the polymer composition has a relative viscosity of 20 to 70;
wherein zinc content ranges from 5 wppm to 900 wppm;
wherein phosphorous content ranges from 0.005 wt % to 1 wt %;
wherein the molar ratio of phosphorous to zinc ranges from 0.01:1 to 3:1;
wherein fibers formed from the polymer composition demonstrate a zinc retention rate of greater than 20% when tested in a dye bath test with dyeing at a pH of 4.0 to 5.5 and have a denier less than 12 dpf.
2. The polymer composition of claim 1 , further comprising a delusterant comprising a titanium compound present in an amount less than 2.0 wt %.
3. The polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition demonstrates a zinc retention rate greater than 24% when the composition is formed into fibers and tested in a dye bath test.
4. The polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the zinc compound comprises zinc oxide.
5. The polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition demonstrates a Staphylococcus aureus reduction greater than 75% as measured by ISO 20743:2013.
6. The polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition demonstrates a Klebsiella pneumoniae reduction greater than 90% as measured by ISO 20743:2013.
7. The polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the zinc compound comprises zinc oxide; wherein the molar ratio of phosphorous to zinc ranges from 0.01:1 to 2.5:1; and wherein fibers formed from the polymer composition demonstrate a zinc retention rate greater than 24% when tested in a dye bath with dyeing at a pH of 4.0 to 5.5.
8. A method for making antimicrobial fibers comprising:
providing a polymer composition having antimicrobial properties, the polymer composition comprising:
from 50 wt % to 99.9 wt % of a thermoplastic polymer,
a zinc compound comprising zinc oxide, zinc pyrithione, or zinc ammonium adipate, or combinations thereof, and
benzene phosphinic acid;
wherein the polymer composition has a relative viscosity less than 70;
wherein zinc content ranges from 5 wppm to 900 wppm;
wherein phosphorous content ranges from 0.005 wt % to 1 wt %;
wherein the molar ratio of phosphorous to zinc ranges from 0.01:1 to 3:1; and
forming the polymer composition into fibers,
wherein the fibers have a denier less than 12 dpf and demonstrate a zinc retention rate of greater than 20% when tested in a dye bath test with dyeing at a pH of 4.0 to 5.5.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer composition has a relative viscosity of 20 to 70.
10. The polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises polyamide.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises polyamide.
12. A polymer composition having antimicrobial properties, the composition comprising:
from 50 wt % to 99.9 wt % of a thermoplastic polymer,
zinc ammonium adipate, and
phosphorous present in an amount ranging from 0.005 wt % to 1 wt %,
wherein the polymer composition has a relative viscosity of 20 to 70; and
wherein zinc content ranges from 5 wppm to 900 wppm, and
wherein fibers formed from the polymer composition demonstrate a zinc retention rate of greater than 20% when tested in a dye bath test with dyeing at a pH of 4.0 to 5.5 and have a denier of less than 12 dpf; and
wherein the polymer composition demonstrates a Staphylococcus aureus reduction greater than 75% and demonstrates a Klebsiella pneumoniae reduction greater than 90% as measured by ISO 20743:2013.
13. The polymer composition of claim 12 , further comprising a delusterant comprising a titanium compound present in an amount less than 2.0 wt %.
14. The polymer composition of claim 12 , wherein the polymer composition demonstrates a Staphylococcus aureus reduction greater than 90% as measured by ISO 20743:2013.
15. The polymer composition of claim 12 , wherein the polymer composition demonstrates a Klebsiella pneumoniae reduction greater than 95% as measured by ISO 20743:2013.
16. A method for making antimicrobial fibers comprising:
providing a polymer composition having antimicrobial properties, the polymer composition comprising:
from 50 wt % to 99.9 wt % of a thermoplastic polymer,
zinc ammonium adipate,
and phosphorous present in an amount ranging from 0.005 wt % to 1 wt %;
wherein the polymer composition has a relative viscosity less than 70;
wherein zinc content ranges from 5 wppm to 900 wppm;
forming the polymer composition into fibers,
wherein the fibers have a denier less than 12 dpf and demonstrate a zinc retention rate of greater than 20% when tested in a dye bath test with dyeing at a pH of 4.0 to 5.5.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising a delusterant comprising a titanium compound present in an amount less than 2.0 wt %.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the fibers demonstrate a Staphylococcus aureus reduction greater than 75% as measured by ISO 20743:2013.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the fibers demonstrate a Klebsiella pneumoniae reduction greater than 90% as measured by ISO 20743:2013.