Composition and method for microbial control for use with polymers
A composition having an additive or component having an antimicrobial or a preservative property, and 3-phenylpropanol or a member of the phenylpropanoid family is provided. A composition having a polymer, an organic acid, and 3-phenylpropanol or a member of the phenylpropanoid family is provided as well as a method(s) of using.
1 . A composition comprising:
(i) a polymer present at a concentration ranging from 70 to 95% of an overall amount of the composition,
(ii) an organic acid present at a concentration ranging from 2.5% to 10% of an overall amount of the composition, and
(iii) 3-phenylpropanol or a member of a phenylpropanoid family present at a concentration ranging from 2.5% to 10% of an overall amount of the composition.
2 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid, fumaric acid, and glycolic acid.
3 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the organic acid comprises benzoic acid at a concentration ranging from 500 ppm to 3500 ppm of an overall amount of the composition.
4 . The composition according to claim 3 , wherein the 3-phenylpropanol is present in the composition at a concentration ranging from 500 ppm to 3500 ppm of an overall amount of the composition.
5 . The composition according to claim 4 , wherein the benzoic acid and 3-phenylpropanol are present in the composition at a ratio ranging from 2:1 to 1:2.
6 . The composition according to claim 5 , wherein 3-phenylpropanol is present in the composition at an effective amount to lower polymer melting temperature of the polymer between 5.6° C. to 16.7° C. (10° F. to 30° F.).
7 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP), ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer (EMA), polyethylene (PE), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyoxymethylene (POM), nylon, polyacrylic, polyester, methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (MABS), and a combination thereof.
8 . A method of making the composition of claim 1 comprising:
adding the organic acid into the polymer and
adding 3-phenylpropanol or a member of the phenylpropanoid family at an effective amount into the polymer to form a compounded material, thereby reducing a processing temperature of the polymer and at an effective amount to reduce and/or prevent oxidation and acid hydrolysis of the polymer by the organic acid, the polymer is a thermoplastic polymer.
9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP), ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer (EMA), polyethylene (PE), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyoxymethylene (POM), nylon, polyacrylic, polyester, methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (MABS), and a combination thereof.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the organic acid comprises benzoic acid.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein 3-phenylpropanol is present in the composition.
12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein benzoic acid and 3-phenylpropanol are present in the composition at a ratio of 2:1 to 1:2 relative to one another.
13 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the compounded material is in a form of a masterbatch.
14 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising using the masterbatch to produce an article having prolonged and/or permanent antimicrobial effect.