Silver containing antimicrobial materials
AssigneeNovel Technologies Holdings Limited
InventorZahir Ahmad
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Abstract
This invention relates to antimicrobial materials and articles, such as fibres, yarns, and their incorporation into textiles, packaging for food or beverages, or articles of clothing such as gloves. The antimicrobial fibres and yarns may be formed of a polymer and may comprise silver particles dispersed therein. The present invention contemplates a polymer batch precursor to the fibre of the invention and further products formed of the fibre or the polymer batch, for example textiles.
Claims31
A polymer batch comprising a polymer material and non-spherical silver particles, wherein the silver particles have (i) a size characteristic of particles formed by grinding silver leaf, and (ii) a length, a width, and a depth, and wherein the depth of the silver particles is less than 0.5 μm and at least one of the length or the width of the silver particles is from 1 μm to about 10 μm.
A fibre comprising a polymer material and non-spherical silver particles, wherein the silver particles have (i) a size characteristic of particles formed by grinding silver leaf, and (ii) a length, a width, and a depth, and wherein the depth of the silver particles is less than 0.5 μm and at least one of the length or the width of the silver particles is from 1 μm to about 10 μm.
A fibre obtainable by a method comprising:
- preparing non-spherical silver particles by grinding silver leaf;
- mixing the silver particles with a polymer material, wherein the silver particles have a depth of less than 0.5 μm and at least one of a length or a width of from 1 μm to about 10 μm;
- and
- extruding the mixture of silver particles and the polymer material to form said fibre.
A method of producing a fibre, the method comprising:
- preparing non-spherical silver particles by grinding silver leaf, wherein the silver particles have a depth
- of less than 0.5 μm and at least one of a length or a width of from 1 μm to about 10 μm;
- mixing the silver particles with a polymer material;
- and
- extruding the mixture of silver particles and the polymer material to form fibres.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.