Method for conferring antimicrobial activity to a substrate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9512559-B2
Application number	US-201113880598-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2011
Priority date	Oct 22, 2010
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for rendering a non-metallic substrate stably antimicrobial. The method comprises: (a) contacting the substrate with an antimicrobial surfactant; (b) contacting the substrate with a polymeric binder; and (c) subjecting the substrate, surfactant, and binder to conditions at which the substrate becomes stably antimicrobial. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a substrate into which an antimicrobial surfactant and a binder have penetrated.

First claim

What we claim is:

1. A method for rendering a non-metallic substrate stably antimicrobial, the method comprising:
(a) contacting the substrate with an antimicrobial surfactant;
(b) contacting the substrate with a polymeric binder; and
(c) subjecting the substrate, surfactant, and binder to conditions at which the substrate becomes stably antimicrobial;
wherein the binder is a homopolymer comprising monomers having the formula CH 2 ═C(R 1a )—C(0)-X—R 2 or CH 2 ═C(R 1b )—Y—C(0)-R 3 , or a copolymer comprising monomers having the formula CH 2 ═C(R 1a )—C(0)-X—R 2 and CH 2 ═C(R 1b )—Y—C(0)-R 3 ;
wherein:
X and Y independently represent 0 or NR 4 ;
R 1a and R 1b independently represent —H or —CH 3 ;
R 2 and R 3 independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to about 12 carbon atoms; and
R 4 represents —H, —CH 3 , or —CH 2 CH 3 ;
wherein the substrate is contacted first with the antimicrobial surfactant and then with the binder.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of rendering a substrate antimicrobial inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, and fungus.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate, surfactant, and binder are maintained at a minimum temperature of about 70° F. and a maximum temperature of about 600° F., or any temperature therebetween.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial surfactant and the binder are sprayed onto the substrate.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein substrate is dipped into a solution or a suspension comprising the antimicrobial surfactant and the binder.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is filamentous, fibrous, or penetrable.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is filamentous or fibrous.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, composites, and paper.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a fabric.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the substrate is heat resistant fabric.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the fabric comprises a natural polymer, a synthetic polymer, or a blend thereof.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the fabric comprises a natural polymer.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the natural polymer is selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, silk, latex, fur and blends thereof.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the fabric comprises a synthetic polymer selected from the group consisting of synthetic polymer a polyamide, a polyurethane, a polyvinyl, a poly(meth)acrylate, a poly(meth)acrylamide, a polycellulose, and blends thereof.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the synthetic polymer is nylon, spandex, polypropylene, rayon, and blends thereof.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial surfactant is an anionic, cationic, or non-ionic surfactant.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the antimicrobial surfactant is a non-ionic antimicrobial surfactant selected from the group consisting of detsol-n, triethanolamine, and Triton X-100.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the antimicrobial surfactant is an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl carboxylates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, and alkyl benzene sulfonates.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial surfactant is a quaternary ammonium salt.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein X and Y represent O.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein R1a and R1b independently represent —H or —CH3.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein R2 and R3 independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to about 12 carbon atoms.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein R2 and R3 independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein R4 independently represents —H, —CH3 or —CH2CH3.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the binder is a copolymer of butyl (meth)acrylate and vinyl acetate.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises a copolymer having a ratio of monomers of CH2═C(R1a)-C(O)—X—R2 and monomers of CH2═C(R1b)—Y—C(O)—R3 is 20:1 to 1:20.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises a block copolymer.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises a polymer or copolymer having a minimum molecular weight of about 10,000 daltons and a maximum molecular weight of about 2,000,000 daltons.

29. A method for rendering a non-metallic fabric stably antimicrobial, the method comprising:
(a) contacting the fabric with an antimicrobial surfactant;
(b) contacting the fabric with a polymeric binder; and
(c) subjecting the fabric, surfactant, and binder to conditions at which the fabric becomes stably antimicrobial;
wherein the binder is a homopolymer comprising monomers having the formula CH 2 ═C(R 1a )—C(0)-X—R 2 or CH 2 ═C(R 1b )—Y—C(0)-R 3 , or a copolymer comprising monomers having the formula CH 2 ═C(R 1a )—C(0)-X—R 2 and CH 2 ═C(R 1b )—Y—C(0)-R 3 ;
wherein:
X and Y independently represent 0 or NR 4 ;
R 1a and R 1b independently represent —H or —CH 3 ;
R 2 and R 3 independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to about 12 carbon atoms; and
R 4 represents —H, —CH 3 , or —CH 2 CH 3 .

Assignees

• Engel Robert
• Innocenti Gary
• Melkonian Karin
• Univ City New York Res Found

Inventors

• Engel Robert
• Innocenti Gary
• Melkonian Karin

Classifications

• C08L97/02

  Lignocellulosic material, e.g. wood, straw or bagasse {(manufacture of articles made from lignocellulosic material by dry processes B27N)} · CPC title

• Y10T442/2525

  Coating or impregnation functions biologically [e.g., insect repellent, antiseptic, insecticide, bactericide, etc.] · CPC title

• C09D5/14

  Paints containing biocides, e.g. fungicides, insecticides or pesticides (C09D5/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• D06M16/003

  with enzymes or microorganisms · CPC title

• C08L33/10

  Homopolymers or copolymers of methacrylic acid esters · CPC title