Fiber-containing yarn possessing antimicrobial activity

Claim 2

A yarn having antimicrobial properties containing a mixture of individual filaments comprising a fiber-forming synthetic polymer wherein at least one of said individual filaments but less than 20% of the total number of said individual filaments has an effective amount of an antimicrobial agent to inhibit microbial growth on the entire yarn.

Claim 3

The yarn recited in claim 1 wherein said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of (a) bisphenoxarsines and bisphenarsazines represented by the following formula: ##STR3## wherein: C is selected from the group consisting of oxygen and NH; and, B is selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur; (b) alkyl phosphate derivatives represented by the following formula: ##STR4## wherein R is an alkyl group containing from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms; R 1 and R 2 are the same and are selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group containing from about 1 to about 14 carbon atoms and a hydroxy alkyl containing from about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms; and, R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl group containing from about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms and at least one of R 3 and R 4 is said alkyl group; and (c) an oxidatively stable and non-toxic metal powder selected from the group consisting of silver and platinum.

Claim 4

The yarn recited in claim 2 wherein said synthetic polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

The yarn recited in claim 3 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of n-octyl, 2-methylheptyl, n-nonyl, 4-methyloctyl, n-nonyl, 2,2-dimethylheptyl, n-decyl, 2-methylnonyl, n-undecyl, 2,2-dimethylnonyl, n-dodecyl, n-tridecyl, n-tetradecyl, n-pentadecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-heptadecyl, n-octadecyl, 2-methyloctyl, and 3-ethylnonyl.

Claim 6

The yarn recited in claim 4 wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentane, isopentyl, n-hexyl, 2-methylpentyl, n-heptyl, 2,3-dimethylpentyl, 2-methylhexyl, n-octyl, 2-methylheptyl, n-nonyl, 4-methyloctyl, n-nonyl, 2,2-dimethylheptyl, n-decyl, 2-methylnonyl, n-undecyl, 2,2-dimethylnonyl, n-dodecyl, n-tridecyl, n-tetradecyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, 1-hydroxypropyl, 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl, 1-hydroxybutyl, 2-hydroxypentyl, 2-hydroxyhexyl, 1-hydroxyheptyl, 2-hydroxy-2-methylheptyl, 1-hydroxynonyl, 1-hydroxydecyl, 1-hydroxyundecyl, 1-hydroxydodecyl, 1-hydroxytridecyl, and 1-hydroxytetradecyl.

Claim 7

The yarn recited in claim 5 wherein R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, n-hexyl, 2-methylpentyl, n-heptyl, 2,3-dimethylpentyl, 2-methylhexyl, n-octyl, 2-methylheptyl, n-nonyl, 4-methyloctyl, n-nonyl, 2,2-dimethylheptyl, n-decyl, 2-methylnonyl, n-undecyl, 2,2-dimethylnonyl, n-dodecyl, n-tridecyl, n-tetradecyl, n-pentadecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-heptadecyl, and n-octadecyl.

Claim 8

The yarn recited in claim 6 wherein said bisphenoxarsines and said bisphenarsazines are selected from the group consisting of 10,10'-oxybisphenoxarsine; 10,10'-oxybisphenarazine; 10,10'-thiobisphenarsazines; 10,10'-thiobisphenoxarsine; and mixtures thereof.

Claim 9

The yarn recited in claim 7 wherein said alkylphosphate derivatives are selected from the group consisting of dodecyl bis(hydroxyethyl)octyl ammonium phosphate, dodecyl bis(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ammonium phosphate, octyl bis(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ammonium phosphate, dodecyl bis(hydroxyethyl) di-octyl ammonium phosphate, dodecyl bis(hydroxyethyl) di-ethyl ammonium phosphate, dodecyl bis(hydroxyethyl) di-propyl ammonium phosphate, octyl bis(hydroxyethyl) di-ethyl ammonium phosphate and mixtures thereof.

Claim 10

The yarn recited in claim 8 wherein said metal powder is silver powder.

Claim 11

The yarn recited in claim 9 wherein said mixture of individual filaments comprises from about 14 to about 300 filaments.

Claim 12

The yarn recited in claim 10 wherein the ratio of number of antimicrobial filaments to number of total filaments in said yarn is in the range of from about 1:200 to about 1:20.

Claim 13

The yarn recited in claim 11 wherein each of said individual filaments has a denier in the range of from about 11 to about 22.

Claim 14

The yarn recited in claim 12 wherein said filaments having antimicrobial properties are present in said yarn in an amount in the range of from about 0.002 to about 0.05 weight percent based on the total weight of said yarn.

Claim 15

The yarn recited in claim 13 wherein said antimicrobial agent is 10,10'-oxybisphenoxarsine and is present in said yarn in an amount in the range of from about 50 to about 500 ppm.

Claim 16

The yarn recited in claim 14 wherein said individual filaments are in substantially parallel relationship to each other.

Claim 17

The yarn recited in claim 14 wherein said individual filaments are interwoven.

Claim 18

The yarn recited in claim 14 wherein said yarn has a zone of inhibition of at least 2 mm for Staphylococcus aureus.

Claim 21

The method recited in claim 18 wherein said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of (a) bisphenoxarsines and bisphenarsazines represented by the following formula: ##STR5## wherein: C is selected from the group consisting of oxygen and NH; and, B is selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur; (b) alkyl phosphate derivatives represented by the following formula: ##STR6## wherein R is an alkyl group containing from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms; R 1 and R 2 are the same and are selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group containing from about 1 to about 14 carbon atoms and a hydroxy alkyl containing from about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms; and, R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl group containing from about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms and at least one of R 3 and R 4 is said alkyl group; and (c) an oxidatively stable and non-toxic metal powder selected from the group consisting of silver and platinum.

Claim 22

The method recited in claim 19 wherein said synthetic polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 23

The method recited in claim 20 wherein n-octyl, 2-methylheptyl, n-nonyl, 4-methyloctyl, n-nonyl, 2,2-dimethylheptyl, n-decyl, 2-methylnonyl, n-undecyl, 2,2-dimethylnonyl, n-dodecyl, n-tridecyl, n-tetradecyl, n-pentadecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-heptadecyl, n-octadecyl, 2-methyloctyl, and 3-ethylnonyl.

Claim 24

The method recited in claim 21 wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, n-hexyl, 2-methylpentyl, n-heptyl, 2,3-dimethylpentyl, 2-methylhexyl, n-octyl, 2-methylheptyl, n-nonyl, 4-methyloctyl, n-nonyl, 2,2-dimethylheptyl, n-decyl, 2-methylnonyl, n-undecyl, 2,2-dimethylnonyl, n-dodecyl, n-tridecyl, n-tetradecyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, 1-hydroxypropyl, 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl, 1-hydroxybutyl, 2-hydroxypentyl, 2-hydroxyhexyl, 1-hydroxyheptyl, 2-hydroxy-2-methylheptyl, 1-hydroxynonyl, 1-hydroxydecyl, 1-hydroxyundecyl, 1-hydroxydodecyl, 1-hydroxytridecyl, and 1-hydroxytetradecyl.

Claim 25

The method recited in claim 22 wherein R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, n-hexyl, 2-methylpentyl, n-heptyl, 2,3-dimethylpentyl, 2-methylhexyl, n-octyl, 2-methylheptyl, n-nonyl, 4-methyloctyl, n-nonyl, 2,2-dimethylheptyl, n-decyl, 2-methylnonyl, n-undecyl, 2,2-dimethylnonyl, n-dodecyl, n-tridecyl, n-tetradecyl, n-pentadecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-heptadecyl, and n-octadecyl.

Claim 26

The method recited in claim 23 wherein said bisphenoxarsines and said bisphenarsazines are selected from the group consisting of 10,10'-oxybisphenoxarsine; 10,10'-oxybisphenarazine; 10,10'-thiobisphenarsazine; 10,10'-thiobisphenoxarsine; and mixtures thereof.

Claim 27

The method recited in claim 24 wherein said alkylphosphate derivatives are selected from the group consisting of dedecyl bis(hydroxyethyl)octyl ammonium phosphate, dodecyl bis(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ammonium phosphate, octyl bis(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ammonium phosphate, dodecyl bis(hydroxyethyl) di-octyl ammonium phosphate, dodecyl bis(hydroxyethyl) di-ethyl ammonium phosphate, dodecyl bis(hydroxyethyl) di-propyl ammonium phosphate, octyl bis(hydroxyethyl) di-ethyl ammonium phosphate and mixtures thereof.

Claim 28

The method recited in claim 25 wherein said metal powder is silver powder.

Claim 29

The method recited in claim 26 where said mixture of individual filaments comprises from about 14 to about 300 filaments.

Claim 30

The method recited in claim 27 wherein the ratio of number of antimicrobial filaments to number of total filaments in said yarn is in the range of from about 1:200 to about 1:20.

Claim 31

The method recited in claim 28 wherein each of said individual filaments has a denier in the range of from about 11 to about 22.

Claim 32

The method recited in claim 29 wherein said filaments having antimicrobial properties are present in said yarn in an amount in the range of from about 0.002 to about 0.05 weight percent based on the total weight of said yarn.

Claim 33

The method recited in claim 30 wherein said antimicrobial agent is 10,10'-oxybisphenoxarsine and is present in said yarn in an amount in the range of from about 50 to about 500 ppm.

Claim 34

The method recited in claim 31 wherein said individual filaments are in substantially parallel relationship to each other.

Claim 35

The method recited in claim 31 wherein said individual filaments are interwoven.