Fabric treatment method
OwnerKenneth T. Johnsoninventor
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Abstract
A method for treating a sulfur-containing fabric and sulfur-containing fabrics with excellent antimicrobial properties are disclosed. First an aluminum salt is added to a sulfur-containing fabric. That product is then rinsed. The rinsed product is combined with an antimicrobial. In one embodiment, the sulfur-containing fabric is combined with an aqueous solution of an oxidizing agent prior to the addition of the aluminum salt. Fabrics treated by the method retain excellent antimicrobial activity even after repeated washings.
Claims21
A method for treating a sulfur-containing fabric, said method comprising the following steps in the order presented:
- a) treating the fabric with an aluminum salt solution comprising an aluminum salt capable of sequestering, binding and/or reacting with sulfur and sulfur-containing species;
- b) rinsing the treated fabric with water or another suitable solvent to remove the aluminum salt from the fabric to give a rinsed fabric;
- and
- c) treating the rinsed fabric with an antimicrobial metal-ion type antimicrobial agent.
A process for improving the antimicrobial and/or anti-odor performance of fabric whose antimicrobial and/or anti-odor efficacy depends, in whole or in part, upon the release, presence or generation of antimicrobial metal ions said process comprising:
- a) treating the fabric with an aluminum salt solution comprising an aluminum salt capable of sequestering, binding and/or reacting with sulfur and sulfur-containing species inherently, including naturally, present in the fabric and/or imparted to the fabric though some process and/or treatment thereof which otherwise inhibit the release or generation of, complex with, sequester, bind and/or react with antimicrobial metal ions, and then
- b) rinsing the treated fabric with water or another appropriate solvent to remove the aluminum salt, before
- c) treating the rinsed fabric with an antimicrobial metal-ion type antimicrobial agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.