Self-Disinfecting Frequently Touched Surface

1 . A frequently-touched surface for use by multiple users, the frequently-touched surface comprising:

a surface which can be pressed for operation by touching to provide input to a computer; the surface is protected by a sulfonated polymeric layer;

wherein the sulfonated polymeric layer consists essentially of a sulfonated polymer, the sulfonated polymer being selected from the group of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, sulfonated block copolymers, sulfonated polyolefins, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polyamides, sulfonated polyesters, sulfonated polysulfones, sulfonated polyketones, sulfonated poly(arylene ether), and mixtures thereof;

wherein the sulfonated polymer has a degree of sulfonation of at least 10%;

wherein the sulfonated polymeric protective layer has a thickness of at least 1 µm to kill at least 90% microbes within 120 minutes of contact with the surface.

2 . The frequently-touched surface of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polymer has an ionic exchange capacity (IEC) of > 0.5 meq/g.

3 . The frequently-touched surface of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polymeric layer has a thickness of at least > 5 µm to kill > 95% of microbes within 120 minutes of contact after six months of protection.

4 . The frequently-touched surface of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polymer is selectively sulfonated to contain from 10 - 100 mol % sulfonic acid or sulfonate salt functional groups based on the number of monomer units or blocks in the sulfonated polymer susceptible to sulfonation, for the coating material to kill at least 95% of microbes within 30 minutes of contact.

5 . The frequently-touched surface of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polymer is a selectively sulfonated negative-charged anionic block copolymer having a general configuration of: A-B-A, (A-B)n(A), (A-B-A)n, (A-B-A) n X, (A-B)nX, A-D-B, A-B-D, A-D-B-D-A, A-B-D-B-A, (A-D-B) n A, (A-B-D) n A (A-D-B) n X, (A-B-D) n X or mixtures thereof, wherein

n is an integer from 0 to 30,

X is a coupling agent residue,

each A and D block is a polymer block resistant to sulfonation,

each B block is susceptible to sulfonation,

the A block is selected from polymerized (i) para-substituted styrene monomers, (ii) ethylene, (iii) alpha olefins of 3 to 18 carbon atoms; (iv) 1,3-cyclodiene monomers, (v) monomers of conjugated dienes having a vinyl content less than 35 mol percent prior to hydrogenation, (vi) acrylic esters, (vii) methacrylic esters, and (viii) mixtures thereof;

the B block is a vinyl aromatic monomer, and

the D block is a hydrogenated polymer or copolymer of a conjugated diene selected from isoprene, 1,3-butadiene and mixtures thereof; and

wherein the block B is selectively sulfonated to contain from 10 - 100 mol % sulfonic acid or sulfonate salt functional groups based on the number of monomer units, for the coating material to kill at least 99% of microbes within 30 minutes of contact.

6 . The frequently-touched surface of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polymeric layer has a surface pH of < 3.0.

7 . The frequently-touched surface of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polymer is neutralized with at least a salt selected from ammonium, phosphonium, pyridinium, and sulfonium salts.

8 . The frequently-touched surface of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polymer is a selectively sulfonated negative-charged anionic block copolymer, having at least one alkenyl arene polymer block A and at least one substantially completely, hydrogenated conjugated diene polymer block B, with substantially all of the sulfonic functional groups grafted to alkenyl arene polymer block A for the block A to be a hydrophilic end-block.

9 . The frequently-touched surface of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polymeric layer has a thickness of 20 to 1000 µm.

10 . The frequently-touched surface of any of claims 1-9 , wherein the sulfonated polymeric layer is deposited or coated onto a transparent scratch-resistant film to form a laminate structure, prior to application onto the frequently touched surface.

11 . The frequently-touched surface of claim 10 , wherein the transparent scratch-resistant film is a conductive film or a resistive film.

12 . The frequently-touched surface of claims 1-9 , wherein the sulfonated polymeric layer is a peel-and-stick film.

13 . The frequently-touched surface of claims 1-9 , wherein the sulfonated polymeric layer is applied to the frequently-touched surface by any of coating, lamination, and spraying.

14 . The frequently-touched surface of claims 1-9 , wherein the frequently-touched surface is a touch panel of a touch screen display of any of a tablet, a monitor, an automated teller machine, and a smartphone.

15 . A method to prevent transmission of microbes between multiple users of a computer having a touch screen display, wherein the multiple users operates the computer by touching a touch panel to provide input to the computer, the method comprises protecting the surface by applying a self-sterilizing protective sulfonated polymeric layer of a thickness of at least 1 µm to kill at least 90% microbes within 120 minutes of contact with the surface;

wherein the sulfonated polymeric layer consists essentially of a sulfonated polymer, the sulfonated polymer being selected from the group of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, sulfonated block copolymers, sulfonated polyolefins, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polyamides, sulfonated polyesters, sulfonated polysulfones, sulfonated polyketones, sulfonated poly(arylene ether), and mixtures thereof;

wherein the sulfonated polymer has a degree of sulfonation of at least 10%.