CA2221138A1 - Microporous fabric containing a microbial adsorbent - Google Patents

Microporous fabric containing a microbial adsorbent Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2221138A1
CA2221138A1 CA002221138A CA2221138A CA2221138A1 CA 2221138 A1 CA2221138 A1 CA 2221138A1 CA 002221138 A CA002221138 A CA 002221138A CA 2221138 A CA2221138 A CA 2221138A CA 2221138 A1 CA2221138 A1 CA 2221138A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
fabric
fabric according
microbial adsorbent
group
microbial
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002221138A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
William Francis Cartwright
Carol Ann Blaney
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2221138A1 publication Critical patent/CA2221138A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61LMETHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L15/00Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
    • A61L15/16Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
    • A61L15/42Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties
    • A61L15/44Medicaments
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01NPRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N25/00Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests
    • A01N25/34Shaped forms, e.g. sheets, not provided for in any other sub-group of this main group
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41WEARING APPAREL
    • A41DOUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
    • A41D31/00Materials specially adapted for outerwear
    • A41D31/04Materials specially adapted for outerwear characterised by special function or use
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41WEARING APPAREL
    • A41DOUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
    • A41D31/00Materials specially adapted for outerwear
    • A41D31/04Materials specially adapted for outerwear characterised by special function or use
    • A41D31/14Air permeable, i.e. capable of being penetrated by gases
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41WEARING APPAREL
    • A41DOUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
    • A41D31/00Materials specially adapted for outerwear
    • A41D31/04Materials specially adapted for outerwear characterised by special function or use
    • A41D31/30Antimicrobial, e.g. antibacterial
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61LMETHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L31/00Materials for other surgical articles, e.g. stents, stent-grafts, shunts, surgical drapes, guide wires, materials for adhesion prevention, occluding devices, surgical gloves, tissue fixation devices
    • A61L31/14Materials characterised by their function or physical properties, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
    • A61L31/16Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04HMAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/02Cotton wool; Wadding
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M11/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising
    • D06M11/32Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/36Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond with oxides, hydroxides or mixed oxides; with salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/38Oxides or hydroxides of elements of Groups 1 or 11 of the Periodic System
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M11/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising
    • D06M11/32Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/36Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond with oxides, hydroxides or mixed oxides; with salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/44Oxides or hydroxides of elements of Groups 2 or 12 of the Periodic System; Zincates; Cadmates
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M11/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising
    • D06M11/32Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/36Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond with oxides, hydroxides or mixed oxides; with salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/45Oxides or hydroxides of elements of Groups 3 or 13 of the Periodic System; Aluminates
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M11/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising
    • D06M11/32Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/36Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond with oxides, hydroxides or mixed oxides; with salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/46Oxides or hydroxides of elements of Groups 4 or 14 of the Periodic System; Titanates; Zirconates; Stannates; Plumbates
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M11/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising
    • D06M11/32Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/36Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond with oxides, hydroxides or mixed oxides; with salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/48Oxides or hydroxides of chromium, molybdenum or tungsten; Chromates; Dichromates; Molybdates; Tungstates
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M11/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising
    • D06M11/32Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/36Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond with oxides, hydroxides or mixed oxides; with salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/49Oxides or hydroxides of elements of Groups 8, 9, 10 or 18 of the Periodic System; Ferrates; Cobaltates; Nickelates; Ruthenates; Osmates; Rhodates; Iridates; Palladates; Platinates
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M11/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising
    • D06M11/32Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond
    • D06M11/50Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with oxygen, ozone, ozonides, oxides, hydroxides or percompounds; Salts derived from anions with an amphoteric element-oxygen bond with hydrogen peroxide or peroxides of metals; with persulfuric, permanganic, pernitric, percarbonic acids or their salts
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M11/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising
    • D06M11/68Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with phosphorus or compounds thereof, e.g. with chlorophosphonic acid or salts thereof
    • D06M11/70Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with phosphorus or compounds thereof, e.g. with chlorophosphonic acid or salts thereof with oxides of phosphorus; with hypophosphorous, phosphorous or phosphoric acids or their salts
    • D06M11/71Salts of phosphoric acids
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M11/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising
    • D06M11/77Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with silicon or compounds thereof
    • D06M11/79Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with silicon or compounds thereof with silicon dioxide, silicic acids or their salts
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M11/00Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising
    • D06M11/83Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with metals; with metal-generating compounds, e.g. metal carbonyls; Reduction of metal compounds on textiles
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M16/00Biochemical treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, e.g. enzymatic
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61LMETHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2300/00Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices
    • A61L2300/10Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices containing or releasing inorganic materials
    • A61L2300/102Metals or metal compounds, e.g. salts such as bicarbonates, carbonates, oxides, zeolites, silicates
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61LMETHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2300/00Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices
    • A61L2300/10Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices containing or releasing inorganic materials
    • A61L2300/102Metals or metal compounds, e.g. salts such as bicarbonates, carbonates, oxides, zeolites, silicates
    • A61L2300/104Silver, e.g. silver sulfadiazine
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61LMETHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2300/00Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices
    • A61L2300/40Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices characterised by a specific therapeutic activity or mode of action
    • A61L2300/404Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M2101/00Chemical constitution of the fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, to be treated
    • D06M2101/16Synthetic fibres, other than mineral fibres
    • D06M2101/18Synthetic fibres consisting of macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M2101/00Chemical constitution of the fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, to be treated
    • D06M2101/16Synthetic fibres, other than mineral fibres
    • D06M2101/30Synthetic polymers consisting of macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D06M2101/32Polyesters
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06MTREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M2101/00Chemical constitution of the fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, to be treated
    • D06M2101/16Synthetic fibres, other than mineral fibres
    • D06M2101/30Synthetic polymers consisting of macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D06M2101/34Polyamides
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T442/00Fabric [woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.]
    • Y10T442/30Woven fabric [i.e., woven strand or strip material]
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T442/00Fabric [woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.]
    • Y10T442/60Nonwoven fabric [i.e., nonwoven strand or fiber material]
    • Y10T442/68Melt-blown nonwoven fabric
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T442/00Fabric [woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.]
    • Y10T442/60Nonwoven fabric [i.e., nonwoven strand or fiber material]
    • Y10T442/681Spun-bonded nonwoven fabric
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T442/00Fabric [woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.]
    • Y10T442/60Nonwoven fabric [i.e., nonwoven strand or fiber material]
    • Y10T442/699Including particulate material other than strand or fiber material

Abstract

Disclosed is a fabric which includes a microbial adsorbent and which is capable of providing a microbial barrier while still being able to allow passage of water vapor. The fabric is formed from a plurality of fibers which define at least one microporous passageway which allows communication, through the fabric, between its respective first and second surfaces. In particular, a portion of the microporous passageway is defined by the microbial adsorbent so that microbes attempting to pass through the fabric via such a passageway must pass in close proximity to the microbial adsorbent. This arrangement allows the microbial adsorbent to interdict the microbe by adsorbing it. Passage of the microbe through the fabric is therby prohibited. Laminates of the fabric with other materials are also disclosed.

Description

W O 96/39032 PCTrUS96/07903 MICROPOROUS FABRIC CONTAINING A MICROBIAL ADSORBENT

~ FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the present invention encompasses fabrics which possess antimicrobial characteristics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Films have been traditionally used to provide barrier properties in single-use items including, but not limited to, articles of clothing in general, protective apparel, health care related products including surgical drapes, gowns, and sterile wrap and personal care absorbent products such as diapers, training pants, incontinence garments, sanitary napkins, bandages, and the like. In personal care absorbent products such as infant diapers and adult incontinence products, films are used as the outer covers with the purpose of preventing body wastes from contaminating the clothing, bedding, and other aspects of the surrounding environment of use. In the area of protective apparel including hospital gowns and other clean room garments, films are used to prevent ~ch~nge of microorganisms between the wearer and the patient.
These films are usually one to two mils in thickness and have a basis weight of approximately 0.7 to 1.5 ounces per square yard. Polyolefin films are most commonly used in such areas.
25One of the significant disadvantages in the utilization of films as barrier materials in most, if not all, of these types of products is that the films do their job too well. That is, they form a complete barrier. Complete barriers of this type create an entirely new problem in that they block the egress of water vapor from the person or item which the film enwraps.
Accordingly, those wearing garments formed from such materials tend to rapidly become quite uncomfortable due to a build-up of water vapor which is given off by the individual but not W O 96/39032 PCT~US96/07903 allowed to pass through the film. The water vapor remains between the individual and the garment or item made from the material. The individual rapidly develops a feeling of being "sweaty" or "sticky" as the relative humidity in that confined area builds up and water vapor condenses therein.
In response to this problem, those of skill in the art have attempted to manufacture protective garments and other items where passage of microbes is undesirable from materials which allow the passage of water vapor. Such materials include, for example, nonwoven webs and laminates thereof as discussed in detail in U.S. patent number 4,041,203 to Brock et al. This patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Microporous varieties of films, either by themselves or incorporated in laminates, have also been used in such products in an attempt to provide articles with more garment-like attributes, such as the ability to reduce the relative humidity underneath the garment, thus maint~in;ng a higher degree of comfort for the wearer.
However, the use of nonwoven webs and/or microporous films in certain protective apparel has not been without difficulties. For example, utilization of such materials has generated concerns about their ability to prevent transfer of microorganisms because the size of microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria are typically much smaller than the pores of microporous films. Nonwoven web materials, typically, also are characterized by passageways therethrough which, while they may retard the progress of microbes, do not guarantee complete barrier properties with respect to them. For these reasons, neither of these arrangements has proven to be completely satisfactory in view of the fact that they do not form a complete barrier for microbes.
Therefore, there remains a distinct need for a material which allows the passage of water vapor therethrough while effectively forming a barrier to the passage of small pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, cysts and nematodes. If such a material were a fabric such as a spunbonded or meltblown W O 96/39032 PCTrUS96/07903 nonwoven web, it could be used alone or as one layer of a laminate to provide an overall material which would have effective microbial barrier properties, breathability (that is, allow passage of an adequate amount of water vapor) and tactile feel.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fabric which allows the passage of water vapor while still being an effective barrier material for microbes such as viruses, bacteria, cysts, and nematodes.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fabric which also allows the passage of water vapor, is an effective barrier for microbes such as viruses, bacteria, cysts, and nematodes and, upon being exposed to a generally aqueous liquid, forms a physical barrier to the passage of such liquid therethrough in the area limited to such exposure.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a laminate of such a fabric with one or more other materials.
These and other objects and the broad scope of applicability of the present invention, will become apparent to those of skill in the art from the details given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention is given only by way of illustration because various changes and modifications well within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art in view of this detailed description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In response to the aforementioned difficulties encountered ~ 35 by those of skill in the art, we have invented a fabric having first and second surfaces and which includes a microbial adsorbent and which is capable of providing a microbial barrier W O 96/39032 PCT~US96/07903 while still being able to allow passage of water vapor. The fabric may be woven or nonwoven. For example, if the fabric is a nonwoven web it may be a spunbonded web or a meltblown web.
The fabric is formed from a plurality of fibers. The fibers will be woven or, if the fabric is a nonwoven, interlaid in such a manner that the passageways through the fabric defined by the fibers form micropores. Accordingly, the fabric of the present invention will, in its broadest aspect, have a plurality of fibers which define at least one microporous passageway allowing communication, through the fabric, between the first and second surfaces. Such communication, in some embodiments, allows the passage of water vapor through the fabric. In particular, a portion of the microporous passageway is defined by a microbial adsorbent so that microbes attempting to pass through the fabric via a passageway must pass in close proximity to the microbial adsorbent. This arrangement allows the microbial adsorbent to interdict the microbe by adsorbing it and prohibiting its passage through the fabric.
In some embodiments the fabric may be formed from a thermoplastic polymer. For example, the thermoplastic polymer may be selected from the group including polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters and copolymers and blends in any combination of these and/or any other suitable material. For example, the polyolefin may be selected from the group consisting of polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polybutylenes and copolymers and blends thereof. The polyethylene may be linear low density polyethylene.
By specifically tailoring the type of microbial adsorbent present in the fabric, the fabric may be adapted to adsorb viruses, bacteria, cysts, or nematodes or any or all of these.
Naturally the fabric may be adapted to adsorb specific types of viruses, bacteria, cysts, nematodes etc., depending upon the use to which it is to be assigned.
In certain embodiments, the fabric may be designed to not only act as a filter for microbes as a result of the presence of the microbial adsorbent but may also be designed to act as a physical (mechanical) barrier to liquids attempting to pass 2 PCTrUS96/07903 therethrough. To this end, the microbial adsorbent utilized may be one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, increases its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 120 seconds. For example, the microbial adsorbent may be one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, increases its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 60 seconds. More particularly, the microbial adsorbent may be one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, increases its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 15 seconds. Even more particularly, the microbial adsorbent may be one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, increases its volume at least 2 times in no more than 1 second. In the event such a microbial adsorbent is utilized, the adsorbent will, upon being contacted with the generally aqueous liquid, increase in size and swell. The swelling serves to block the microporous passageway with which the microbial adsorbent is in close proximity. Blockage of the passageway creates a physical barrier within the microporous passageway with the consequence that no further liquid can pass.
An alternative manner by which physical blockage may be obtained, if the microbial adsorbent which is desired to be utilized does not have the capability of swelling (increasing its size), is that the fabric may also include a loading of another particulate material which, itself, swells in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid. In some embodiments, particulates of the swellable material and the microbial adsorbent may be incorporated into the fabric in an agglomerated fashion so that each individual agglomerate contains some of the non-swellable microbial adsorbent and some of the swellable material. Of course, the particles of microbial adsorbent and swellable material must be located along the microporous passageways which transit the fabric.
Otherwise, the particles could not perform their intended function.
In any of these embodiments the swellable material is one which can increase its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 120 seconds in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid.

W O 96/39032 PCT~US96/07903 For example, the swellable material may be one which, in the presence of a generally a~ueous liquid, increases its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 60 seconds. More particularly, the swellable material may be one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, increases its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 15 seconds. Even more particularly, the swellable material may be one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, increases its volume at least 2 times in no more than 1 second.
The microbial adsorbent may be any such adsorbent which is compatible with the fabric material being utilized. In some embodiments the microbial adsorbent may be a derivitized silane such as, for example, 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride.
15 [(CH3)3Si(CH2)3N (CH3)2C18H37Cl ] This material was formerly available from Dow Corning under the trade designation Dow Corning 5700. It now is available from Aegis Environmental.
In other embodiments the microbial adsorbent is a heavy metal.
For example, the heavy metal may be silver.
In other embodiments the microbial adsorbent may be a metallic salt. For example, the metallic salt may be a water-insoluble polyvalent metal salt. The water-insoluble polyvalent metal salt may be a salt of a metal selected from the group including Group IB, Group IIA, Group IIB, Group IIIA, Group IVB, Group VIB metals. More particularly, the metal may be selected from the group including iron, aluminum, lead, magnesium, silver, calcium and alloys of one or more of iron, aluminum, lead, magnesium, silver and calcium. The salt may be selected from the group including hydroxides, phosphates, chromates, oxides and peroxides. For example, the salt may be selected from the group including one or more of ferric hydroxides, ferrous hydroxides, aluminum hydroxides, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium peroxide, lead chromate and calcium hydroxide.
In some embodiments the microbial adsorbent may be selected from the group including colloidal clays. For example, the colloidal clay may be a bentonite such as sodium bentonite W O 96/39032 PCTrUS96/07903 and/or calcium bentonite. The colloidal clay may, in some embodiments, be hectorite.
The microbial filter fabric of the present invention may be advantageously formed into a wide variety of items where it is desired to have a material which allows passage of, for example, water vapor but which prohibits the passage of microbes therethrough. For example, the item may be a garment.
such as a surgical gown, foot protectors, face masks, head or hair coverings, aprons, jackets, pants gloves, coveralls and, generally speaking, all clean room attire.
Alternatively it may be incorporated into a product such as, for example, a sterile wrap material which is used to maintain the sterile field around a doctor's tools until they are utilized in an operation.
Likewise, the fabric of the present invention may conveniently be formed into a surgical drape for use on a patient during an operation.

DEFINITIONS
As used herein the term "breathable" refers to any material which has a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of at least 300 grams per square meter per 24 hours when measured in accordance with ASTM E 96-80.
As used herein the term "microbial adsorbent" refers to any material which has the ability to hold and/or inactivate microbes such as, for example, viruses, bacteria, cysts and/or nematodes on or near its surface.
As used herein the term "microporous passageway" refers to any passageway which, at some point along its length, has a diameter of fifty (50) microns or less.
As used herein the term "microporous fabric refers to a fabric having a plurality of microporous passageways therethrough to make the fabric breathable. The microporous fabric will also have a hydrohead of at least 25 centimeters of water when its hydrohead is measured in accordance with Method 5514 - Federal Test Methods Standard No. l91A. For example, the microporous fabric may have a hydrohead of at least 50 centimeters of water when so measured.
~ s used herein the term "generally aqueous liquid" refers to any liquid which has, as a major component, water. All bodily fluids including, without limitation, blood, saliva, menses, mucus, lymph fluid and urine, are expressly included within this definition.
Whether a material is "swellable" is determined by first providing 100 mL of water contained in a glass-stoppered cylinder of 100 mL capacity. Next a first two (2) gram portion of the material is dropped onto the surface of the water and allowed to completely settle. Then, a second two (2) gram portion of the material being tested is dropped onto the surface. After two (2) hours, the volume occupied by the material at the bottom of the cylinder is observed. For a material to be "swellable", the material at the bottom of the cylinder must have an apparent volume of not less than 6 mL.
As used herein the term "fabric" is intended to enco A~.C
any sheet-like material which is formed, in whole or part, from a plurality of fibers. A fabric may be woven or nonwoven.
Typical examples of nonwoven fabrics are meltblown webs and spunbonded webs.
As used herein, the term "nonwoven web" refers to a web that has a structure of individual fibers or filaments which are interlaid, but not in an identifiable repeating manner.
As used herein the term "spunbond or spunbonded fibers"
refers to fibers which are formed by extruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of fine, usually circular capillaries of a spinnerette with the diameter of the extruded filaments then being rapidly reduced as by, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., and U.S.
Patent No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., U.S. Patent No.
3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., U.S. Patent Nos. 3,338,992 and - 3,341,394 to Kinney, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,502,763 and 3,909,009 to Levy, and U.S. Patent No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al. which are all herein incorporated by reference.

W O 96/39032 PCT~US96/07903 As used herein the term "meltblown fibers" means fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into a high velocity, usually heated gas (e.g. air) stream which attenuates the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high velocity gas stream and are deposited on a collecting surface to form a web of randomly disbursed meltblown fibers. Meltblowing is described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,849,241 to Buntin, U.S. Patent No. 4,307,143 to Meitner et al., and U.S. Patent No. 4,707,398 to Wisneski et al. which are all herein incorporated by reference.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic, highly enlarged cross-sectional view of a breathable, microbial barrier fabric designed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic, highly enlarged cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a breathable, microbial barrier fabric designed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and where the fabric also forms a physical barrier to the passage of liquids at the site of contact of the fabric by such a liquid.
Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a process for forming a microbial barrier fabric in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

DETATT~n DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings where like reference numerals represent like or equivalent structures or process steps, an improved microporous fabric 10 of the present invention is depicted. Typically, the fabric 10 will be formed from a nonwoven web 12 of a thermoplastic material. Of course, the fabric 10 may be formed, in other embodiments, from a wide W O 96/39032 PCTrUS96/07903 variety of woven materials. The nonwoven web 12 will be formed from a plurality of fibers 14. The random intertwining of the fibers 14 of the nonwoven web 12 form tortuous passageways 16 from a first surface 18 of the fabric 10 to a second surface 20 of the fabric lO. That is to say, the fibers 14 of the web 12, in combination, form a multitude of passageways trough the fabric 10 as is conventionally known. For purposes of the present invention, the fibers 14 should be laid down in such a fashion as to assure that the passageways 16 through the web 12 are microporous passageways 16. While low denier meltblown fibers are well suited for this task, any type of fiber which can be arranged to assure that the passageways 16 through the fabric 10 are microporous will suffice. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that typical microporous fabrics 10 possess a multitude of such passageways 16 per square inch. The fabric 10 is configured so that a particle 22 of a material which is a microbial adsorbent is positioned at some point along the length of the passageway 16 between the first surface 18 of the fabric 10 and the second surface 20 of the fabric 10. In most instances, the lay-down of the fibers 14 will be controlled so that the passageways 16 will be sized in such a manner as to allow the passage of water vapor through the fabric 10. That is, the fabric 10 is breathable. In particular, a portion of the microporous passageway 16 is defined by the microbial adsorbent 22 so that microbes (not illustrated) attempting to pass through the fabric 10 via a passageway 16 must pass in close proximity to the microbial adsorbent 22. This arrangement allows the microbial adsorbent 22 to interdict microbes by adsorbing them and prohibiting their passage through the fabric 10 while still retaining the breathability of the fabric 10.
In some embodiments the thermoplastic material 12 may be selected from the group including polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters and copolymers and blends in any combination of these and/or any other suitable material. For example, the polyolefin may be selected from the group consisting of polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polybutylenes and copolymers and W O 96/39032 PCT~US96/07903 blends thereof. The polyethylene may be linear low density polyethylene.
By specifically tailoring the type of microbial adsorbent 22 present in the fabric 10, the fabric 10 may be adapted to adsorb a wide variety of pathogens. For example, the fabric 10 may be tailored to act as a filter for viruses, bacteria, cysts, and/or nematodes. Naturally the fabric 10 may be adapted to adsorb specific types of viruses, bacteria, cysts, and/or nematodes depending upon the use to which it is to be assigned. Utilization of a pathogen-specific adsorbent readily accomplishes this result.
In certain embodiments, the fabric 10 may be designed to not only act as a filter (adsorbent) for microbes as a result of the presence of the microbial adsorbent 22 but may also be designed to act as a physical (mechanical) barrier to liquids attempting to pass therethrough. To this end, the microbial adsorbent 22 utilized may be a swellable one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, can increase its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 120 seconds. ~or example, the microbial adsorbent 22 may be one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, increases its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 60 seconds. More particularly, the microbial adsorbent 22 may be one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, increases its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 15 seconds. Even more particularly, the microbial adsorbent 22 may be one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, increases its volume at least 2 times in no more than 1 second. In the event such a microbial adsorbent 22 is utilized, the adsorbent 22 will, upon being contacted with the generally aqueous liquid, increase in size and swell. The swelling serves to block the microporous passageway 16 which is in close proximity to the swellable adsorbent 22. Blockage of the passageway 16 creates a physical barrier within the microporous passageway 16 with the consequence that no liquid can pass therethrough. Thus, a physical or m~ch~n;cal barrier (dam) is formed in the passageway 16 which closes off the passageway 16. The net W O 96/39032 PCT~US96/07903 result of this embodiment is that the fabric 10 is "intelligent" in that it breathes and allows water vapor to pass as long as the fabric 10 has not received a liquid insult.
The microbial adsorbent 22 within the fabric 10 constantly interdicts pathogens such as viruses and bacteria so that they cannot pass through the fabric even though it is capable of allowing passage of water vapor. however, upon receipt of a liquid insult, the fabric self seals itself only in the area of the insult in order to prevent passage of the liquid therethrough. Throughout all of this the fabric 10 remains breathable because of the presence of numerous other micropores 16 which have not been blocked. A specific example of a swellable microbial adsorbent 22 is bentonite and, in particular, sodium bentonite.
Figure 2 illustrates an alternative manner by which physical blockage of the passageway 16 may be obtained, if the microbial adsorbent 22 which is desired to be utilized does not have the capability of swelling (increasing its size), which is that the fabric 10 may also include a loading of another particulate material 24 which, itself, swells in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid. In some embodiments, particulates of the swellable material 24 and the microbial adsorbent 22 may be incorporated into the fabric 10 in an agglomerated fashion so that each individual particle contains some of the non-swellable microbial adsorbent 22 and some of the swellable material 24. In any of these embodiments the swellable material 24 is one which can increase its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 120 seconds. For example, the swellable material 24 may be one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, increases its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 60 seconds. More particularly, the swellable material 24 may be one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, increases its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 15 seconds. Even more particularly, the swellable material 24 may be one which, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, increases its volume at least 2 times in no more than 1 second. Specific examples of such swellable W O 96/39032 PCTrUS96/07903 materials 24 which may be utilized in conjunction with a non-swelling microbial adsorbent 22 include, without limitation, kaolins and diatomaceous earth. The diatomaceous earth may be treated, as is known to those in the art, so as to be positively charged. One constraint in this design is that the microbial adsorbent 22 and the swellable material 24 must both be exposed to the passageway 16 for each to perform their respective functions.
The microbial adsorbent 22 may be any such adsorbent 22 which is compatible with the fiber-forming material being utilized. In some embodiments the microbial adsorbent 22 is a heavy metal. For example, the heavy metal may be silver.
In other embodiments the microbial adsorbent 22 may be a metallic salt. For example, the metallic salt may be a water-insoluble polyvalent metal salt. The water-insoluble polyvalent metal salt may be a salt of a metal selected from the group including Group IB, Group IIA, Group IIB, Group IIIA, Group IVB, Group VIB metals. More particularly, the metal may be selected from the group including iron, aluminum, lead, magnesium, silver, calcium and alloys of one or more of iron, aluminum, lead, magnesium, silver and calcium. The salt may be selected from the group including hydroxides, phosphates, chromates, oxides and peroxides. For example, the salt may be selected from the group including one or more of ferric hydroxides, ferrous hydroxides, aluminum hydroxides, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium peroxide, lead chromate and calcium hydroxide.
In some embodiments the microbial adsorbent 22 may be selected from the group including colloidal clays. For example, the colloidal clay may be a bentonite such as sodium bentonite and/or calcium bentonite. In some embodiments the colloidal clay may be a hectorite.
The microbial filter fabric 10 of the present invention may be advantageously formed into a wide variety of items where it is desired to have a material which allows passage of, for example, water vapor but which prohibits the passage of microbes therethrough. For example, the item may be a garment W O 96/39032 PCT~US96/07903 such as a surgical gown, foot protectors, face masks, head or hair coverings, aprons, jackets, pants gloves, coveralls and, generally speaking, all clean room attire.
Alternatively the fabric 10 may be incorporated into a product such as, for example, a sterile wrap material which is used to maintain the sterile field around a doctor's tools until they are utilized in an operation.
Likewise, the fabric 10 of the present invention may conveniently be formed or incorporated into a surgical drape for use on a patient during an operation.
The fabric 10 of the present invention may be made by a wide variety of methods known to those of skill in the art.
One method of forming the film 10 is described in detail in U.S. patent 4,100,324 entitled "Nonwoven Fabric And Method Of Producing Same" and issued on July 11, 1978 in the names of Richard A. Anderson, Robert C. Sokolowski and Kurt W.
Ostermeier. This application is hereby specifically incorporated by reference into the present application in its entirety. Fabrics 10 of the present invention can be formed using this process merely by substituting microbial adsorbent particles 22 as the additive to the fiber-forming stream. All other process steps remain essentially the same. Of course, the microbial adsorbent 22 selected desirably will not chemically interfere with or adversely affect the extruded fibers 14 and will have the ability to be relatively uniformly dispersed throughout the fibers 14 upon their formation.
Alternatively, the microbial adsorbent 22 particles can be added to the thermoplastic material prior to its extrusion through the die tip to form the fibers. In this embodiment, it is necessary for the moisture content of the microbial adsorbent 22 to be maintained at 1%, by weight, or less for satisfactory extrusion to occur. Generally speaking, these microbial adsorbent 22 particles which are extruded will have an average particle size in the range of from about O.1 to about 7 microns. Of course, the maximum particle size will be governed by the ultimate diameter of the fibers 14 which are to WO 96/39032 PCT~US96/07903 be formed. Typically the fabric 10 will contain at least about 30%, by weight of the fabric, of the adsorbent 22.
Figure 3 schematically illustrates, in more detail, a process for forming a fabric 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. This process is more ~ completely described in U.S. patent number 4,663,220. the entirety of this patent is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The fabric 10, in this embodiment, is formed from a meltblown nonwoven web 12 which may include substantially continuous microfibers 14. Alternatively, the microfibers 14 may be discontinuous, as is well known to those of skill in the art. Whether the fibers 14 are continuous or discontinuous depends on a variety of process variables which include, for example, the velocity of the attenuating gas, the temperature of the attenuating gas and the volume of attenuating gas passing through the air passageways in a given time period. The meltblown fibers 14 are formed by a conventional meltblowing die 26 and deposited on the surface of a foraminous belt 28.
Other foraminous arrangements such as a drum arrangement may be utilized. One or more vacuum boxes (not shown) typically are located below the surface of the foraminous belt 28 and between a pair of rollers 30 one of which is shown in Figure 3. The meltblowing die 26 is supplied with a thermoplastic material, which is to be formed into the fibers 14 from a conventional extruder arrangement (not shown), through an orifice 32. As is well known by those in the art, the meltblowing die 26 is also provided with pressurized air at orifices 34a and 34b. Thereafter, the microfibers 14 are expelled from the meltblowing die 26 and are collected as a fibrous nonwoven microporous web 12 on the surface of the belt 28 which is moving as indicated by the arrow. The vacuum boxes assist in retention of the microfibers 14 on the surface of the belt 28. Typically the tip of the meltblowing die 26 is from about 4 inches to about 24 inches from the surface of the foraminous endless belt 28 upon which the microfibers 14 are collected. The thus-collected, entangled microfibers 14 form a coherent, i.e. cohesive, fibrous microporous nonwoven web 12 W O 96/39032 PCTnJS96/07903 which may be removed from the foraminous endless belt 28 by a pair of pinch rollers (not shown) which may be designed to press the entangled fibers 14 of the web 12 together to improve the integrity of the web 12. Thereafter, the web 12 may be 5 transported by a conventional arrangement to a wind-up roll (not shown) for storage. Alternatively, the web 12 may be removed directly from the belt 28 by the wind--up roller. In some embodiments, the web 12 may be pattern-embossed as by ultrasonic embossing equipment (not shown) or other embossing 10 equipment, such as, for example, the pressure nip formed between a heated calender and anvil roll (not shown).
Figure 3 illustrates that the discrete particles of the microbial adsorbent are incorporated into the stream of meltblown fibers 14 after the expulsion of the fibers 14 from 15 the meltblowing die 26 but prior to the deposition of the fibers 14 onto the belt 28. If the microbial adsorbent 22 is one which does not swell and it is desired that the fabric 10 which is being made to have the ability to form a m~och~n;cal barrier to liquid insults, additional particulates of fibrous 20 materials which have the ability to swell may be conveniently added to the fiber stream at this point in the process. For example, it may be desirable to incorporate one or more types of swellable materials such a fibrous or particulate superabsorbent materials or wood pulp fibers or particulates 25 into the fibers 14. Blends of two or more of such fibers or particulates can be so incorporated. This type of apparatus is conventionally referenced by those of skill in the art as "coforming" apparatus. Coforming generally refers to the process of adding fibers and/or particulates to the stream of 30 newly formed fibers 14 prior to their deposition on the belt 28 and their subsequent formation into a nonwoven web 12.
Figure 3 illustrates that, after formation of the microfibers 14, a stream of particulates of a microbial adsorbent 22 is generally uniformly injected into the stream of 35 microfibers 14. As has been previously, stated, in some embodiments the microbial adsorbent 22 may be in the form of a fiber as opposed to particulate form. Distribution of the W O 96/39032 . PCTrUS96/07903 particulates of the microbial adsorbent 22 generally uniformly throughout the stream of microfibers 14 is preferably accomplished by merging a secondary gas stream (not shown) containing the particulates of microbial adsorbent 22 with the 5 stream of microfibers 14. Apparatus for accomplishing this merger includes a conventional particulate injection system 36 which receives the particulates 22 in a hopper 38. The particulate injection system 36 conveys the particulates 22 toward the meltblown stream of fibers 14 through a forming duct 10 or nozzle 40. The particulates 22 are conveyed through the nozzle 40 by means of the secondary stream of pressurized air.
The height 42 of the forming duct or nozzle 40 with respect to the tip of the die 26 may be adjusted to vary the properties of the coformed product. The height 42 and distance 44 values 15 will also vary with the particular microbial adsorbent 22 being added to the microfibers 14. The width of the forming duct or nozzle 40 and the length that the forming duct or nozzle 82 extends from the particulate injection system 36 will have to be adjusted in order to obtain optimum distribution of the 20 particulates 22 throughout the stream of meltblown microfibers 14. Preferably, the length of the forming duct or nozzle 40 should be as short as equipment design will allow.
FIG. 3 further illustrates that the gas stream carrying the particulates 22 is desirably moving in a direction which is 25 generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the stream of the microfibers 14 at the point of merger of the two gas streams. Other angles of merger of the two streams may be utilized. The velocity of the gas stream carrying the particulates 22 is usually adjusted so that it is less than 30 the velocity of the gas stream which attenuates the microfibers 14. This allows the streams, upon merger and integration thereof, to flow in substantially the same direction as that of the stream of microfibers 14. Indeed, the merger of the two streams is preferably accomplished in a manner which is 35 somewhat like an aspirating effect whereby the stream of particulates 22 is drawn into the stream of microfibers 14.
It is also preferred that the velocity difference between the W O 96/39032 PCT~US96/07903 two gas streams be such that the particulates 22 are integrated into the microfibers 14 in a turbulent manner so that the particulates become thoroughly mixed with the microfibers 14.
In general, increasing the velocity differential between the two streams produces a more homogeneous integration of the particulates 22 into the microfibers 14, and decreases in the velocity differential between the two streams are generally expected to produce concentrated areas of particulates 22 within the microfibers 14. Generally, for increased production rates it is desired for the gas stream which entrains and attenuates the stream of microfibers 14 to have an initial high velocity, for example from about 200 feet to about 1,000 feet per second and for the stream of gas which carries the particulates 22 to have an initial low velocity, for example 15 from about 50 to about 200 feet per second. Of course, after the stream of gas that entrains and attenuates the extruded thermoplastic material into microfibers 14 exits the meltblowing die 26 it immediately expands and decreases in velocity.
Upon merging and integration of the stream of microbial adsorbent particulates 22 into the stream of microfibers 14 to generally uniformly distribute the particulates 22 throughout the stream of meltblown fibers 14, as discussed above, a composite stream of microfibers 14 and particulates 22 is formed. The microfibers 14 may still be semi-molten and tacky at the time of incorporation of the particulates 22 into the microfibers 14, and, in such a situation, the particulates 22 are not only ~ech~nically entangled within the microfibers 14 but also usually become thermally bonded to the microfibers 14. However, if the microfibers 14 are not semi-molten and tacky at the time of incorporation of the particulates 22 therein, the particulates 22 will only be mechanically entangled within the microfibers 14.
In order to convert the composite stream of microfibers 14 and particulates 22 into a microporous fibrous nonwoven web 12 of microfibers 14 having the particulates 22 generally uni~ormly distributed throughout and, if desired, bonded to the WO 96/39032 PCTrUS96/07903 microfibers 14 of the web 12, a collecting device is located in the path of the composite stream. The collecting device may be the foraminous rotating belt 28 illustrated in Fig. 3. A
conventional vacuum arrangement (not shown) assists in retaining the composite mixture of fibers 14 and particulates ~ 22 on the external surface of the belt 28. Other collecting devices are well-known to those of skill in the art and may be utilized in place of the rotating belt 28. For example, a porous rotating drum arrangement could be utilized.
Thereafter, the web 12 may be removed from the belt 28 by a pair of nip rollers (now shown) and stored on a conventional wind-up roller, as previously discussed.
Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that numerous variations of this process are possible. For example, instead of utilizing conventional coforming apparatus, the particulates or fibers of microbial adsorbent may be extruded directly through the die 26. In this embodiment the particulates 22 would be incorporated directly into the fibers 14. In some of these embodiments the resulting fabric would include one or more fibers 14 having an outer surface. In some embodiments the fibers 14 will define at least one microporous passageway 16 allowing communication, through the fiber 14, between a first portion of the outer surface and a second portion of the outer surface of the fiber 14. As with the prior embodiments, a portion of the microporous passageway would be defined by the microbial adsorbent 22. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the fibers 14 will have an outer surface which defines a concavity. In these embodiments the portion of the outer surface which defines the concavity is, itself, defined by the microbial adsorbent.
In some embodiments, it may be desirable to form a laminate of the fabric 10 of the present invention and one or more other materials. Such a laminate would have the combined attributes of all of the individual layers. For example, the laminate could have a cloth-like appearance and feel, be breathable like cloth and still be able to prevent the passage of microbes therethrough. Of course, the term laminate is envisioned to W O 96/39032 PCT~US96/07903 include embodiments having two, three or more separate and discrete layers conventionally joined together by conventional lamination procedures.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications o~ the present invention may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not to be interpreted as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but only in accordance with the appended claims when read in light of the foregoing disclosure.

Claims (44)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A fabric defining a first surface and a second surface and comprising:
a plurality of fibers which define at least one microporous passageway allowing communication, through the fabric, between the first and second surfaces; and wherein a portion of the microporous passageway is defined by the microbial adsorbent.
2. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters and copolymers and blends in any combination of these.
3. The fabric according to claim 2, wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polybutylenes and copolymers and blends thereof.
4. The fabric according to claim 3, wherein the polyethylene is linear low density polyethylene.
5. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the microbial adsorbent is adapted to adsorb at least one type of virus.
6. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the microbial adsorbent is adapted to adsorb at least one type of bacteria.
7. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the microbial adsorbent is adapted to adsorb at least one type of cyst.
8. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the microbial adsorbent is adapted to adsorb at least one type of nematode.
9. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the microbial adsorbent is adapted, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, to increase its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 120 seconds.
10 The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the microbial adsorbent is adapted, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, to increase its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 60 seconds.
11. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the microbial adsorbent is adapted, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, to increase its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 15 seconds.
12. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the microbial adsorbent is adapted, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, to increase its volume at least 2 times in no more than 1 second.
13. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric further comprises a swellable material which defines a portion of the passageway and which is adapted, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, to increase its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 120 seconds.
14. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric further comprises a swellable material which defines a portion of the passageway and which is adapted, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, to increase its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 60 seconds.
15. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric further comprises a swellable material which defines a portion of the passageway and which is adapted, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, to increase its volume at least 1.5 times in no more than 15 seconds.
16. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric further comprises a swellable material which defines a portion of the passageway and which is adapted, in the presence of a generally aqueous liquid, to increase its volume at least 2 times in no more than 1 second.
17. The fabric according to claim 16, wherein the microbial adsorbent is attached to the swellable material.
18. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the microbial adsorbent is a heavy metal.
19. The fabric according to claim 18, wherein the heavy metal is silver.
20. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the microbial adsorbent is a metallic salt.
21. The fabric according to claim 20, wherein the metallic salt is a water-insoluble polyvalent metal salt.
22. The fabric according to claim 21, wherein the water-insoluble polyvalent metal salt is a salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of Group IB, Group IIA, Group IIB, Group IIIA, Group IVB, Group VIB metals.
23. The fabric according to claim 22, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of at least one of iron, aluminum, lead, magnesium, silver, calcium and alloys of one or more of aluminum, lead, magnesium, silver and calcium.
24. The fabric according to claim 21, wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, phosphates, chromates, oxides and peroxides.
25. The fabric according to claim 24, wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of one of more of ferric hydroxides, ferrous hydroxides, aluminum hydroxides, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium peroxide, lead chromate and calcium hydroxide.
26. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the microbial adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of colloidal clays.
27. The fabric according to claim 26, wherein the colloidal clay is selected from the group consisting of bentonite and hectorite.
28. The fabric according to claim 27, wherein the bentonite is sodium bentonite.
29. The fabric according to claim 27, wherein the bentonite is calcium bentonite.
30. The fabric according to claim l, wherein the fabric is a nonwoven fabric.
31. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a woven fabric.
32. The fabric according to claim 30, wherein the nonwoven fabric is a spunbonded fabric.
33. The fabric according to claim 30, wherein the nonwoven fabric is a meltblown fabric.
34. An item comprising the fabric according to claim 1.
35. The item according to claim 34, wherein the item is a garment.
36. The garment according to claim 35, wherein the garment is suitable for clean room attire.
37. The garment according to claim 36, wherein the garment is selected from the group consisting of a surgical gown, foot protectors, face masks, head or hair coverings, aprons, jackets, pants, gloves and coveralls.
38. The item according to claim 34, wherein the item is a sterile wrap.
39. The item according to claim 34, wherein the item is a surgical drape.
40. A fabric including a microbial adsorbent, the fabric comprising at least one fiber having:
an outer surface; and with the fiber defining at least one microporous passageway allowing communication, through the fiber, between a first portion of the outer surface and a second portion of the outer surface; and wherein a portion of the microporous passageway is defined by the microbial adsorbent.
41. A fabric including a microbial adsorbent, the fabric comprising at least one fiber having:
an outer surface defining a concavity; and wherein a portion of the outer surface defining the concavity is defined by the microbial adsorbent.
42. A laminate comprising the fabric of claim 1.
43. A laminate comprising the fabric of claim 40.
44. A laminate comprising the fabric of claim 41.
CA002221138A 1995-06-06 1996-05-29 Microporous fabric containing a microbial adsorbent Abandoned CA2221138A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US47050895A 1995-06-06 1995-06-06
US08/470,508 1995-06-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2221138A1 true CA2221138A1 (en) 1996-12-12

Family

ID=23867880

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002221138A Abandoned CA2221138A1 (en) 1995-06-06 1996-05-29 Microporous fabric containing a microbial adsorbent

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US6034010A (en)
AU (1) AU5882296A (en)
CA (1) CA2221138A1 (en)
MX (1) MX9709298A (en)
WO (1) WO1996039032A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA964607B (en)

Families Citing this family (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5955187A (en) * 1995-06-06 1999-09-21 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Microporous film with liquid triggered barrier feature
US6677258B2 (en) 1996-05-29 2004-01-13 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Breathable composite sheet structure and absorbent articles utilizing same
US7307031B2 (en) 1997-05-29 2007-12-11 The Procter & Gamble Company Breathable composite sheet structure and absorbent articles utilizing same
AU9674698A (en) * 1997-10-02 1999-04-27 Synthetic Industries, Inc. Methods for controlling bacteria, mold, mildew and odors in conjunction with construction of buildings and related articles therefor
US6187696B1 (en) 1997-12-03 2001-02-13 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Breathable composite sheet structure
GB9727119D0 (en) * 1997-12-22 1998-02-25 Retroscreen Ltd Virucidal protective clothing
US7287650B2 (en) * 2002-01-31 2007-10-30 Kx Technologies Llc Structures that inhibit microbial growth
US6835311B2 (en) * 2002-01-31 2004-12-28 Koslow Technologies Corporation Microporous filter media, filtration systems containing same, and methods of making and using
CA2479958C (en) * 2002-03-22 2009-11-03 Holofiber, Llc Polymeric fiber composition and method
US7074499B2 (en) * 2002-03-22 2006-07-11 Holofiber, Llc Polymeric fiber composition and method
US7513093B2 (en) * 2002-10-04 2009-04-07 Ethicon, Inc. Method of preparing a packaged antimicrobial medical device
US8112973B2 (en) * 2002-10-04 2012-02-14 Ethicon, Inc. Method of making a packaged antimicrobial suture
US8133437B2 (en) 2002-10-04 2012-03-13 Ethicon, Inc. Method of preparing an antimicrobial packaged medical device
US9474524B2 (en) 2002-10-04 2016-10-25 Ethicon, Inc. Packaged antimicrobial medical device having improved shelf life and method of preparing same
US9597067B2 (en) * 2002-10-04 2017-03-21 Ethicon, Inc. Packaged antimicrobial medical device and method of preparing same
US7311839B2 (en) * 2002-12-09 2007-12-25 New Mexico Tech Research Foundation Removal of biological pathogens using surfactant-modified zeolite
CN100339007C (en) * 2003-01-20 2007-09-26 东亚合成株式会社 Antibacterial compositions and antibacterial products
US7303683B2 (en) * 2003-04-04 2007-12-04 The Clorox Company Microorganism-removing filter medium having high isoelectric material and low melt index binder
KR101159372B1 (en) * 2003-08-12 2012-06-25 고이치 오츠키 Antiviral agent and fibers and antiviral members using the same
RU2317843C2 (en) * 2005-08-08 2008-02-27 Институт физики прочности и материаловедения Сибирского отделения Российской академии наук (ИФПМ СО РАН) Filtering material, method of its manufacture and method of filtering
EP1953286A1 (en) * 2007-02-01 2008-08-06 Nisshinbo Industries, Inc. Fabric and mask
US20090252647A1 (en) * 2008-04-02 2009-10-08 Crosstex International, Inc. Compositions and methods for applying antimicrobials to substrates
WO2010144503A2 (en) * 2009-06-08 2010-12-16 Quick-Med Technologies, Inc. Antimicrobial textiles comprising peroxide
US10245025B2 (en) 2012-04-06 2019-04-02 Ethicon, Inc. Packaged antimicrobial medical device having improved shelf life and method of preparing same
KR102258069B1 (en) * 2012-07-10 2021-05-28 바이오메드 사이언시즈, 인크. Novel medical countermeasure for first responder use in burn injury
US9826876B2 (en) 2013-09-30 2017-11-28 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Low-moisture cloud-making cleaning article
US11459761B2 (en) * 2017-11-29 2022-10-04 Sika Technology Ag Roofing membrane with a functional layer

Family Cites Families (127)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA803714A (en) * 1969-01-14 Harmon Carlyle Continuous filament fabric
US3338992A (en) * 1959-12-15 1967-08-29 Du Pont Process for forming non-woven filamentary structures from fiber-forming synthetic organic polymers
US3502763A (en) * 1962-02-03 1970-03-24 Freudenberg Carl Kg Process of producing non-woven fabric fleece
NL297313A (en) * 1962-08-30 1900-01-01
US3316136A (en) * 1963-05-27 1967-04-25 Pufahl Joseph Method and apparatus for making composite contoured fabric
US3502538A (en) * 1964-08-17 1970-03-24 Du Pont Bonded nonwoven sheets with a defined distribution of bond strengths
US3341394A (en) * 1966-12-21 1967-09-12 Du Pont Sheets of randomly distributed continuous filaments
US3542615A (en) * 1967-06-16 1970-11-24 Monsanto Co Process for producing a nylon non-woven fabric
US3849241A (en) * 1968-12-23 1974-11-19 Exxon Research Engineering Co Non-woven mats by melt blowing
US3676242A (en) * 1969-08-13 1972-07-11 Exxon Research Engineering Co Method of making a nonwoven polymer laminate
DE2048006B2 (en) * 1969-10-01 1980-10-30 Asahi Kasei Kogyo K.K., Osaka (Japan) Method and device for producing a wide nonwoven web
DE1950669C3 (en) * 1969-10-08 1982-05-13 Metallgesellschaft Ag, 6000 Frankfurt Process for the manufacture of nonwovens
US3949128A (en) * 1972-08-22 1976-04-06 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Product and process for producing a stretchable nonwoven material from a spot bonded continuous filament web
GB1453447A (en) * 1972-09-06 1976-10-20 Kimberly Clark Co Nonwoven thermoplastic fabric
DE2260716C2 (en) 1972-11-07 1983-12-29 Walter Dr. 8671 Selbitz Köcher Method for producing a textile material web or the like.
US4254175A (en) * 1973-03-16 1981-03-03 Josef Kubat Multilayer thermoplastic film laminate
US3909009A (en) * 1974-01-28 1975-09-30 Astatic Corp Tone arm and phonograph pickup assemblies
US4100324A (en) * 1974-03-26 1978-07-11 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Nonwoven fabric and method of producing same
US3935363A (en) * 1974-09-16 1976-01-27 The Dow Chemical Company Absorbent product containing flocculated clay mineral aggregates
US4042740A (en) * 1974-09-20 1977-08-16 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Reinforced pillowed microfiber webs
US3973063A (en) * 1974-11-21 1976-08-03 Mobil Oil Corporation Spot blocked thermoplastic film laminate
US3997383A (en) * 1975-03-10 1976-12-14 W. R. Grace & Co. Cross-linked amide/olefin polymeric laminates
US4087486A (en) * 1975-05-15 1978-05-02 Standard Oil Company (Indiana) Polypropylene composition containing EPR
US4081301A (en) * 1975-10-30 1978-03-28 The Procter & Gamble Company Method and apparatus for continuously attaching discrete, stretched elastic strands to predetermined isolated portions of disposable abosrbent products
GB1550955A (en) * 1975-12-29 1979-08-22 Johnson & Johnson Textile fabric and method of manufacturing the same
GB1519172A (en) 1976-03-22 1978-07-26 Pakcel Converters Ltd Productions of laminated polyoefinic materials
GB1575010A (en) 1976-07-13 1980-09-17 Ici Ltd Calenderable propylene polymer compositions
US4278524A (en) * 1977-09-26 1981-07-14 Olin Corporation Diaphragms for use in the electrolysis of alkali metal chlorides
ZA785803B (en) * 1977-10-17 1979-09-26 Kimberly Clark Co Microfiber oil and water wipe
US4185135A (en) * 1977-12-13 1980-01-22 Huff Caswell L Method for coating a textile substrate
NZ190690A (en) 1978-06-21 1981-03-16 Johnson & Johnson Production of absorbent facing material
DE2965694D1 (en) * 1978-12-29 1983-07-21 Ici Plc Laminates of cloth or other sheet material and filled crystalline polypropylenes and a method for making them
JPS5632241A (en) * 1979-08-24 1981-04-01 Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals Composite packing bag having oil absorbing property
US4318408A (en) * 1979-10-29 1982-03-09 Permacel Absorbent products
US4449977A (en) * 1979-10-29 1984-05-22 Johnson & Johnson Absorbent products, processes and compositions
US4300967A (en) * 1979-11-15 1981-11-17 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Methods and apparatus for elasticizing discrete areas of conformable garments
US4340563A (en) * 1980-05-05 1982-07-20 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Method for forming nonwoven webs
US4297157A (en) * 1980-06-23 1981-10-27 Weyerhaeuser Company Method for application of elastic to articles
US4454055A (en) * 1980-08-25 1984-06-12 National Starch And Chemical Corporation Absorbent composition of matter, process for preparing same and article prepared therefrom
US4472328A (en) * 1981-06-09 1984-09-18 Mitsubishi Chemical Industries, Ltd. Process for producing porous film or sheet
US4341213A (en) * 1981-08-13 1982-07-27 The Kendall Co. Bonded nonwoven fabrics
US4348444A (en) * 1981-09-08 1982-09-07 Hercules Incorporated Nonwoven fabric from a combination of thermoplastic netting and oriented film
US4434258A (en) * 1982-01-15 1984-02-28 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Organic acid containing filled and plasticized thermoplastic compositions based on ethylene interpolymers
US4443513A (en) * 1982-02-24 1984-04-17 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Soft thermoplastic fiber webs and method of making
JPS58149303A (en) * 1982-03-02 1983-09-05 花王株式会社 Disposable diaper
US4568341A (en) * 1982-03-10 1986-02-04 James G. Mitchell Absorbent pads, incontinence care products and methods of production
US4379192A (en) * 1982-06-23 1983-04-05 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Impervious absorbent barrier fabric embodying films and fibrous webs
US4430381A (en) * 1982-06-25 1984-02-07 The Buckeye Cellulose Corporation Monocarboxylic acid antimicrobials in fabrics
US4525407A (en) * 1982-08-27 1985-06-25 Chicopee Elastic composites
JPS59133235A (en) * 1983-01-21 1984-07-31 Kanebo Ltd Zeolite particle-containing polymer and its production
US4446189A (en) * 1983-05-12 1984-05-01 Phillips Petroleum Company Textured nonwoven textile fabric laminate and process of making said
US4585604A (en) * 1983-06-23 1986-04-29 Mitsubishi Petrochemical Co., Ltd. Process for preparing an air-permeable film
US4500670B1 (en) * 1983-11-22 1994-12-27 Dow Chemical Co Composite mixtures for improving gel strength of water absorbent gels
US4606970A (en) * 1983-12-19 1986-08-19 Mobil Oil Corporation Laminated plastic/non-woven film and its method of manufacture
US5296290A (en) * 1984-01-26 1994-03-22 Johnson & Johnson Absorbent laminates
US4595629A (en) * 1984-03-09 1986-06-17 Chicopee Water impervious materials
US4522203A (en) * 1984-03-09 1985-06-11 Chicopee Water impervious materials
US4656062A (en) * 1984-04-27 1987-04-07 American Colloid Company Self-healing bentonite sheet material composite article
US4681793A (en) * 1985-05-31 1987-07-21 The Procter & Gamble Company Non-occluding, liquid-impervious, composite backsheet for absorptive devices
JPS6172543A (en) * 1984-09-19 1986-04-14 小松精練株式会社 Permeable waterproof stretch fabric
ATE55913T1 (en) * 1984-09-27 1990-09-15 Herman Ferdinand Kamp THERAPEUTIC DRESSING AND METHOD OF ITS MANUFACTURE.
US4721511A (en) * 1984-10-05 1988-01-26 W. R. Grace & Co. Leach resistant antimicrobial fabric
JPS61121925A (en) * 1984-11-19 1986-06-09 Mitsubishi Petrochem Co Ltd Manufacture of air permeable film
DE3669996D1 (en) * 1985-01-30 1990-05-10 Kao Corp ABSORPTION ITEM.
US4650481A (en) * 1985-02-22 1987-03-17 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Crinkled, quilted absorbent pad
JPS61293228A (en) * 1985-06-21 1986-12-24 Arakawa Chem Ind Co Ltd Production of water-absorptive resin
US4579729A (en) * 1985-07-05 1986-04-01 Shell Oil Company Wide pore alumina supports
US4657802A (en) * 1985-07-30 1987-04-14 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Composite nonwoven elastic web
US4720415A (en) * 1985-07-30 1988-01-19 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Composite elastomeric material and process for making the same
US4615937A (en) * 1985-09-05 1986-10-07 The James River Corporation Antimicrobially active, non-woven web used in a wet wiper
US4606964A (en) * 1985-11-22 1986-08-19 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Bulked web composite and method of making the same
JPS62148537A (en) 1985-12-23 1987-07-02 Mitsui Toatsu Chem Inc Production of porous film
JPS61167550A (en) * 1985-12-26 1986-07-29 東洋化学株式会社 Bag body for packaging
JPS62151429A (en) * 1985-12-26 1987-07-06 Nippon Petrochem Co Ltd Production of porous film or sheet
NZ218971A (en) * 1986-01-21 1989-05-29 Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals Porous polyolefin films and their preparation
US4748070A (en) 1986-03-24 1988-05-31 Hercules Incorporated Film/fiber laminates
US4684568A (en) 1986-04-21 1987-08-04 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Vapor-permeable liquid-impermeable fabric
US5051189A (en) * 1989-01-31 1991-09-24 University Of Florida Method of removing an unwanted impurity from an aqueous material
US4741944A (en) * 1986-07-30 1988-05-03 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Wet wipe and wipe dispensing arrangement
US4826516A (en) * 1986-09-18 1989-05-02 Daiken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Moisture-remover and moisture-removing apparatus
US4707398A (en) * 1986-10-15 1987-11-17 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Elastic polyetherester nonwoven web
US4692368A (en) * 1986-10-15 1987-09-08 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Elastic spunlaced polyester-meltblown polyetherurethane laminate
JPS63135569A (en) * 1986-11-18 1988-06-07 三井東圧化学株式会社 Air permeable waterproof nonwoven fabric
US4725473A (en) * 1986-11-25 1988-02-16 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Cloth-like, liquid impervious composite material and method for making the same
US4929303A (en) * 1987-03-11 1990-05-29 Exxon Chemical Patents Inc. Composite breathable housewrap films
AU619175B2 (en) 1987-04-21 1992-01-23 W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Coated products and methods for making
JP2736773B2 (en) * 1987-04-22 1998-04-02 旭化成工業株式会社 Manufacturing method of architectural sheet material
US4935267A (en) * 1987-05-08 1990-06-19 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Process for electrolessly plating copper and plating solution therefor
US4761324B1 (en) * 1987-06-24 1991-05-07 Elastic,laminated,water-proof,moisture-permeable fabric
JPH0618899B2 (en) 1987-06-30 1994-03-16 品川燃料株式会社 Film containing antibacterial zeolite
US4867881A (en) 1987-09-14 1989-09-19 Minnesota Minning And Manufacturing Company Orientied microporous film
GB8802933D0 (en) * 1988-02-09 1988-03-09 Porvair Ltd Porelle/stretchable fabric composite & socks therefrom
US4822667A (en) * 1988-03-04 1989-04-18 Precision Fabrics Group Woven medical fabric
US4879078A (en) * 1988-03-14 1989-11-07 Hercules Incorporated Process for producing uniaxial polyolefin/filler films for controlled atmosphere packaging
US4902544A (en) * 1988-05-24 1990-02-20 Sheen Kleen, Inc. Leak resistant absorbent product
US5008296A (en) * 1988-07-27 1991-04-16 Hercules Incorporated Breathable microporous film
US4837079A (en) * 1988-09-09 1989-06-06 James River Corporation Antimicrobially active, non-woven web used in a wet wiper
US4981747A (en) * 1988-09-23 1991-01-01 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Composite elastic material including a reversibly necked material
US4957943A (en) * 1988-10-14 1990-09-18 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Particle-filled microporous materials
US4883549A (en) * 1988-12-06 1989-11-28 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Method of attaching a composite elastic material to an article
NZ232095A (en) * 1989-02-15 1992-01-29 Grace W R & Co Flatting agent produced by milling a hydrous inorganic oxide hydrogel
US5173356A (en) 1989-09-25 1992-12-22 Amoco Corporation Self-bonded fibrous nonwoven webs
JP2818223B2 (en) * 1989-10-26 1998-10-30 アルケア株式会社 Medical stretch cloth
DE3935643A1 (en) 1989-10-26 1991-05-02 Wolff Walsrode Ag HOT-LAYABLE, HIGH-GLOSSY MULTILAYER FILMS
GB2239838B (en) 1989-12-13 1994-05-18 Grace W R & Co Improved film
US5114781A (en) * 1989-12-15 1992-05-19 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Multi-direction stretch composite elastic material including a reversibly necked material
US5116662A (en) * 1989-12-15 1992-05-26 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Multi-direction stretch composite elastic material
DE4000495C2 (en) 1990-01-10 1994-03-03 Spohn Verpackungswerke Gmbh & Method and device for laminating an unstretched film with an stretched film and a multilayer film
JP2905531B2 (en) * 1990-01-26 1999-06-14 株式会社トクヤマ Microbial impermeable membrane
US5069907A (en) * 1990-03-23 1991-12-03 Phoenix Medical Technology Surgical drape having incorporated therein a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent
US5208098A (en) * 1990-10-23 1993-05-04 Amoco Corporation Self-bonded nonwoven web and porous film composites
US5174231A (en) * 1990-12-17 1992-12-29 American Colloid Company Water-barrier of water-swellable clay sandwiched between interconnected layers of flexible fabric needled together using a lubricant
US5143679A (en) * 1991-02-28 1992-09-01 The Procter & Gamble Company Method for sequentially stretching zero strain stretch laminate web to impart elasticity thereto without rupturing the web
JPH04284235A (en) * 1991-03-13 1992-10-08 Unitika Ltd Manufacture of porous film laminate towel
EP0505027B1 (en) * 1991-03-22 1996-11-06 Kappler Safety Group Breathable composite barrier fabric
US5503840A (en) * 1991-08-09 1996-04-02 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Antimicrobial compositions, process for preparing the same and use
US5169712A (en) * 1991-08-23 1992-12-08 Amoco Corporation Porous film composites
US5328758A (en) * 1991-10-11 1994-07-12 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Particle-loaded nonwoven fibrous article for separations and purifications
US5190533A (en) * 1992-01-06 1993-03-02 Blackburn William A Biodegradable fluid-absorbing structures
US5261899A (en) * 1992-04-06 1993-11-16 The Procter & Gamble Company Multilayer film exhibiting an opaque appearance
JPH0649253A (en) * 1992-08-03 1994-02-22 Mitsui Toatsu Chem Inc Porous antimicrobial film and its production
US5300192A (en) * 1992-08-17 1994-04-05 Weyerhaeuser Company Wet laid fiber sheet manufacturing with reactivatable binders for binding particles to fibers
US5336552A (en) * 1992-08-26 1994-08-09 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Nonwoven fabric made with multicomponent polymeric strands including a blend of polyolefin and ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer
JP3201023B2 (en) * 1992-11-17 2001-08-20 東亞合成株式会社 Manufacturing method of antibacterial synthetic fiber
DE4311422A1 (en) 1993-04-07 1994-10-13 Hoechst Ag Opaque, matt, biaxially oriented polypropylene multilayer film, process for its production and its use
JPH0754208A (en) * 1993-08-13 1995-02-28 Teijin Ltd Sheath-core type composite binder fiber
CA2148392A1 (en) 1994-06-06 1995-12-07 Ann Louise Mccormack Stretch-thinned film and nonwoven laminate

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1996039032A1 (en) 1996-12-12
US6034010A (en) 2000-03-07
MX9709298A (en) 1998-02-28
ZA964607B (en) 1996-12-12
AU5882296A (en) 1996-12-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6034010A (en) Microporous fabric containing a microbial adsorbent
MXPA97009298A (en) Microporose fabric containing a microb adsorbent
US6117803A (en) Personal care articles with abrasion resistant meltblown layer
US5620785A (en) Meltblown barrier webs and processes of making same
KR100592003B1 (en) Breathable microporous film
US4801494A (en) Nonwoven pad cover with fluid masking properties
CA2303319C (en) Breathable, liquid-impermeable, apertured film/nonwoven laminate
US5470424A (en) Process for forming liquid impermeable sheet material having a fibrous surface and products formed thereby
US6417120B1 (en) Particle-containing meltblown webs
US6319342B1 (en) Method of forming meltblown webs containing particles
US6110479A (en) Microporous film containing a microbial adsorbent
USH1969H1 (en) Absorbent garments with microporous films having zoned breathability
WO2004003292A2 (en) Liquid repellent nonwoven protective material
CA2215521A1 (en) Nonwoven protective laminate
JP5926687B2 (en) Surface treated non-woven fabric
US20020155776A1 (en) Particle-containing meltblown webs
EP1448143B1 (en) Highly breathable water resistant composite
EP1917938B1 (en) Cover material for an absorbent article including a skin care composition and an absorbent article having a cover material including a skin care composition
MXPA97009412A (en) Microporosa film containing adsorbentemicrob
US8778817B2 (en) Method of making a cover material including a skin care composition
TW394673B (en) Microporous fabric containing a microbial adsorbent and its products
SK3692002A3 (en) Nonwoven coverstock for absorbent articles
WO2005009290A2 (en) Unitized cover and transfer layer and process for making the same

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Dead