Hydrophilic polypropylene fibers having antimicrobial activity
Polypropylene fibers and devices that include a fatty acid monoglyceride added to the polypropylene as a melt additive are described. A hydrophilic enhancer material can be advantageously added to the polypropylene as a melt additive to enhance the hydrophilicity of the fibers and devices. An antimicrobial enhancer material can be added to the fibers to enhance the antimicrobial activity.
1. A polypropylene fiber having incorporated therein
(a) a C 8 to C 16 fatty acid monoglyceride or a mixture of glycerides containing at least 80 percent by weight of one or more C 8 to C 16 fatty acid monoglycerides, and
(b) a hydrophilic enhancer material selected from the group consisting of polybutylene, polybutylene copolymers, ethylene/octene copolymers, and atactic polypropylene;
wherein the surface of the fiber is treated with an effective amount of an antimicrobial enhancer material such that the fiber is antimicrobial to Gram-negative bacteria, and wherein the antimicrobial enhancer material is an organic acid or a chelating agent.
2. The fiber of claim 1 wherein the monoglyceride is selected from the group consisting of a glycerol monocaprylate, glycerol monocaprate, and glycerol monolaurate.
3. The fiber of claim 1 wherein the monoglyceride comprises a mixture of at least two monoglycerides selected from the group consisting of a glycerol monocaprylate, a glycerol monocaprate, and a glycerol monolaurate.
4. The fiber of claim 1 wherein the polybutylene is incorporated prior to fiber formation in an amount from about 2 to about 25 weight percent.
5. The fiber of claim 1 wherein the polybutylene is incorporated prior to fiber formation in an amount from about 5 to about 15 weight percent.
6. The fiber of claim 1 wherein the monoglyceride is a C 8 to C 12 fatty acid monoglyceride.
7. The fiber of claim 6 having an effective amount of the monoglyceride incorporated therein such that the fiber is antimicrobial to Gram-positive bacteria.
8. The fiber of claim 1 wherein the antimicrobial enhancer material is lactic acid.
9. A polypropylene fiber comprising:
(a) polypropylene;
(b) an effective amount of a C 8 to C 12 fatty acid monoglyceride incorporated into the fiber to impart both hydrophilicity and antimicrobial activity to Gram-positive bacteria to the surface of the fiber;
(c) a hydrophilic enhancer material incorporated into the fiber, wherein the hydrophilic enhancer material is selected from the group consisting of polybutylene, polybutylene copolymers, ethylene/octene copolymers, and atactic polypropylene; and
(d) a coating on the surface of the fiber containing an effective amount of an antimicrobial enhancer material;
wherein the fiber is antimicrobial to Gram-positive bacteria and to Gram-negative bacteria, and wherein the antimicrobial enhancer material is selected from the group consisting of organic acids and chelating agents.
10. The fiber of claim 9 wherein the antimicrobial enhancer material is lactic acid.
11. The fiber of claim 9 wherein the monoglyceride is a glycerol monolaurate.