Antimicrobial nonwoven polyamides with zinc content
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates to a nonwoven polyamide structure having antimicrobial properties comprising: nonwoven polyamide fibers comprising less than 4000 ppm zinc dispersed within the nonwoven polyamide fibers; and less than 2000 ppm phosphorus. The fibers have an average fiber diameter of less than 25 microns; and the polyamide structure demonstrates a Staphylococcus aureus reduction of at least 90%, as measured by ISO 20743-13.
1. A nonwoven polyamide structure having antimicrobial properties comprising:
nonwoven polyamide fibers comprising a polyamide composition comprising:
less than 4000 ppm zinc dispersed within the nonwoven polyamide fibers; and
less than 2000 ppm phosphorus, wherein the fibers have an average fiber diameter of less than 15 microns;
wherein the zinc is provided via a zinc compound and the phosphorus is provided via a phosphorus compound different from the zinc compound; and
wherein the polyamide structure demonstrates a Staphylococcus Aureus reduction of at least 90%, as measured by ISO 20743-13.
2. The nonwoven polyamide structure of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the zinc to the phosphorus is at least 1.3:1; or less than 0.64:1.
3. The nonwoven polyamide structure of claim 1 , wherein the relative viscosity of the polyamide composition is less than 100.
4. The nonwoven polyamide structure of claim 1 , wherein the polyamide composition comprises less than 3100 ppm of zinc, wherein the polyamide composition comprises a delusterant including at least a portion of the phosphorus, and wherein the polyamide demonstrates a Staphylococcus Aureus reduction of at least 90%, as measured by ISO 20743-13.
5. The nonwoven polyamide structure of claim 1 , wherein no more than 20% of the fibers have a diameter of greater than 700 nanometers.
6. The nonwoven polyamide structure of claim 1 , wherein the polyamide comprises nylon 66 or nylon 6/66.
7. Antimicrobial fibers having antimicrobial properties comprising:
a polymer;
less than 4000 ppm zinc dispersed within the polymer; and
less than 2000 ppm phosphorus,
wherein the fibers have an average fiber diameter of less than 15 microns;
wherein the zinc is provided via a zinc compound and the phosphorus is provided via a phosphorus compound different from the zinc compound; and
wherein the antimicrobial fibers demonstrate a Staphylococcus Aureus reduction of at least 90%, as measured by ISO 20743-13.
8. The antimicrobial fibers of claim 7 , wherein the weight ratio of zinc to phosphorus is:
at least 1.3:1; or less than 0.64:1.
9. The antimicrobial fibers of claim 7 , wherein the antimicrobial fibers comprise less than 3100 ppm of zinc.
10. The antimicrobial fibers of claim 7 , wherein the antimicrobial fibers have a zinc retention greater than 70% as measured by a dye bath test.
11. The antimicrobial fibers of claim 7 , wherein the antimicrobial fibers comprise less than 3200 ppm of zinc, wherein the polymer comprises a delusterant including at least a portion of the phosphorus, and wherein the antimicrobial fibers demonstrate a Staphylococcus Aureus reduction of at least 90%, as measured by ISO 20743-13.
12. The antimicrobial fibers of claim 7 , wherein the polymer comprises nylon 66 or nylon 6/66.
13. A filtration product comprising the antimicrobial fibers of claim 7 , and having a filtration efficiency of from 1 to 99.999%, as measured via a TSI 3160 automated filter tester.
14. The filtration product of claim 13 , wherein the filtration product has an air permeability value of less than 600 CFM/ft 2 .
15. An apparel product comprising the nonwoven polyamide structure of claim 1 .
16. The apparel product of claim 15 , wherein the apparel product is an antimicrobial athletic wear.
17. A medical device comprising nonwoven polyamide fibers having a polyamide composition comprising:
less than 4000 ppm zinc dispersed within the nonwoven polyamide fibers; and
less than 2000 ppm phosphorus,
wherein the fibers have an average fiber diameter of less than 15 microns;
wherein the zinc is provided via a zinc compound and the phosphorus is provided via a phosphorus compound different from the zinc compound; and
wherein the polyamide structure demonstrates a Staphylococcus Aureus reduction of at least 90%, as measured by ISO 20743-13.
18. The medical device of claim 17 , wherein the medical device is a bone reparation device.