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AssigneeAgION Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey A. Trogolo, Frank C. Rossitto, Edward K. Welch II
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The invention relates to a microcapsule comprising an inorganic antimicrobial agent coated with a hydrophilic polymer. The hydrophilic polymer is able to absorb sufficient water as to enable the action of the encapsulated antimicrobial agent. These microcapsules are useful to impart antimicrobial activity and can be used in polymer compositions, sprays and coatings. A method of preparing the microcapsule by treatment of the antimicrobial agent with a solution of the hydrophilic polymer is provided. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of preparing the microcapsule by coating of the antimicrobial agent with a polymer precursor followed by treatment with a reactive ingredient. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of preparing the microcapsule by melt compounding the antimicrobial agent with the hydrophilic polymer followed by grinding to the desired particle size. Polymer compositions comprising the microcapsules and a matrix polymer are also provided. Another embodiment of the invention is an article prepared from the polymer compositions comprising the microcapsules and a matrix polymer.
A microcapsule having an average diameter of about 2000 μ or less comprising an inorganic antimicrobial agent encapsulated within a hydrophilic polymer.
A method for manufacture of a microcapsule comprising:
A method for manufacture of a microcapsule comprising:
A method for manufacture of a microcapsule comprising:
A method of controlling the rate of release of an antimicrobial agent from a polymer matrix comprising forming a microcapsule comprising an antimicrobial agent encapsulated within a hydrophilic polymer of a given hydrophilic property which allows for the release of the antimicrobial agent at a given rate and incorporating the antimicrobial microcapsule into another polymer which is either non-hydrophilic or which has a different hydrophilic property.
A method of improving the antimicrobial properties of a non-hydrophilic polymer using a given amount of an antimicrobial agent comprising forming a microcapsule comprising the antimicrobial agent encapsulated within a hydrophilic and incorporating the antimicrobial microcapsule into the non-hydrophilic polymer to form an antimicrobial composition having improved antimicrobial performance as compared to a similar composition wherein the antimicrobial agent is directly incorporated into the non-hydrophilic polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.