Anti-microbial fiber and fibrous products

A bi-component fiber, comprising:

• a. a first component of a high tenacity polymer having between 20-80% of the fiber by weight and constituting a core;
• b. a second component of a hydrolysis resistant polymer having between 80-20% of the fiber by weight and constituting a sheath surrounding the core, and including an additive;
• and
• c. the additive in said second component ranging from 0.1% to 20% by weight of the fiber and being selected from the group consisting of pigments, compounds creating a hydrophilic surface, and anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-odor materials.

An anti-microbial fiber, comprising:

• a. a binder fiber made from low temperature polymer with a melting or softening temperature below 225 degrees C.;
• b. an anti-microbial additive of an inorganic compound made from a metal chosen from the group consisting of copper, zinc, tin and silver added to the homopolymer fiber, the additive ranging from 0.1 to 20% by weight of the fiber;
• and
• c. untreated fibers which are free of anti-microbial additive being blended with said binder fiber, said blend of fibers having been heated to its melting temperature, thereby providing a fiber blend which can be used to produce an anti-microbial finished fabric able to withstand significant wear and washings and maintain its effectiveness.

A stiff,moldable laminate, comprising:

• a layer of tough thermoplastic resin;
• a nonwoven fabric layer;
• a tough extruded core of thermoplastic resin;
• at least one impact resistant strength layer of nonwoven material constructed from a BiComponent staple fiber or blend of PET staple fiber and binder staple fiber or blend of PET staple fiber and BiComponent staple fiber, the nonwoven layer using a combination of PET fibers and PETG or other copolymer or monopolymers fibers which act as a binding agent for PET.