Granted Patent B2

US 12,202,947 · App. 17/042,239 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Inventors: Wenjun Meng (Hong Kong, HK); Sau Kuen Connie Kwok (Hong Kong, HK); Yueying Chen (Hong Kong, HK); Mingyu Zhang (Hong Kong, HK)

Assignee: Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited

C08J3/226C08K5/0058C08K5/103C08L55/02C08J2433/02

Abstract

Claims (25)

1. A germ-repellent plastic comprising:

an anti-biofouling compound selected from the group consisting of poly (ethylene glycol) sorbitan monolaurate, poly (ethylene glycol) sorbitan monooleate, poly (ethylene glycol) sorbitol hexaoleate, ceteareth, and a combination thereof; and

a basic plastic selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), and a combination thereof; and

an intermediate plastic having a polymer backbone that is different from the basic plastic, the intermediate plastic is comingled with the anti-biofouling compound to form a masterbatch, which is further comingled with the basic plastic to form the germ-repellent plastic, so as to enhance the association between the anti-biofouling compound and the basic plastic, thereby reducing the chances of the anti-biofouling compound leaching from the basic plastic;

wherein the intermediate plastic is a random terpolymer having a polymer backbone comprising ethylene monomers, acrylic ester monomers, and maleic anhydride monomers.

2. The germ-repellent plastic according to claim 1 , wherein the masterbatch comprises from about 0.001% by weight to about 50% by weight of the germ-repellent plastic.

3. The germ-repellent plastic according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate plastic comprises at least one polymeric segment that is compatible with the basic plastic.

4. The germ-repellent plastic according to claim 1 , wherein the anti-biofouling compound comprises from about 0.01% by weight to about 25% by weight of the masterbatch.

5. The germ-repellent plastic according to claim 1 , wherein the basic plastic comprises from about 50% by weight to about 99.999% by weight of the germ-repellent plastic.

6. A germ-repellent plastic item comprising the germ-repellent plastic according to claim 1 .

7. The germ-repellent plastic of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate plastic is ethylene/acrylic ester/maleic anhydride terpolymer.

8. The germ-repellent plastic of claim 7 , wherein the anti-biofouling compound is ceteareth.

9. The germ-repellent plastic of claim 8 , wherein the masterbatch comprises from about 0.001% by weight to about 2.2% by weight of the germ-repellent plastic.

10. The germ-repellent plastic of claim 8 , wherein the ethylene/acrylic ester/maleic anhydride terpolymer is about 2% by weight of the germ-repellent plastic.

11. The germ-repellent plastic of claim 8 , wherein the ceteareth is about 0.2% by weight of the germ-repellent plastic.

12. The germ-repellent plastic of claim 8 , wherein the basic plastic is PP, HDPE, or EVA, and the basic plastic is about 97.8% by weight to about 99.999% by weight of the germ-repellent plastic.

13. A method for manufacturing the germ-repellent plastic, comprising the steps of:

i) providing an anti-biofouling compound selected from the group consisting of poly (ethylene glycol) sorbitan monolaurate, poly (ethylene glycol) sorbitan monooleate, poly (ethylene glycol) sorbitol hexaoleate, ceteareth, and a combination thereof;

ii) providing a basic plastic selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), and a combination thereof;

iii) providing an intermediate plastic consisting of a random terpolymer having a polymer backbone comprising ethylene monomers, acrylic ester monomers, and maleic anhydride monomers, the intermediate plastic having a polymer backbone that is different from the basic plastic;

iv) comingling the intermediate plastic with the anti-biofouling compound to form a masterbatch and

iii) comingling the masterbatch with the basic plastic, thereby forming the germ-repellent plastic.

14. The method for manufacturing the germ-repellent plastic according to claim 13 wherein the basic plastic has a Tg greater than or equal to about 60° C.

15. The method for manufacturing the germ-repellent plastic according to claim 13 wherein the comingling step takes place in an extruder, a mould, or a combination thereof.

16. The method for manufacturing the germ-repellent plastic according to claim 15 further comprising the step of thermoforming a plastic item from the germ-repellent plastic.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (29)