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AssigneeKraton Polymers LLC
InventorsVijay Mhetar, Richard Blackwell, Roger Tocchetto, Sharman McGilbert, Bert Krutzer
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A frequently-touched surface for use by multiple users includes a surface protected by a laminate structure. The laminate structure includes a self-sterilizing sulfonated polymeric outer layer, sulfonated to a certain % to kill at least 95% microbes within 30 minutes of contact. The self-sterilizing sulfonated polymer layer can be applied to the frequently touched surface by any of coating, lamination, and spraying. The sulfonated polymer in embodiment is selected from perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, sulfonated block copolymers, sulfonated polyolefins, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polyamides, sulfonated polyesters, sulfonated polysulfones, sulfonated polyketones, sulfonated poly(arylene ether), and mixtures thereof. The sulfonated polymer has a degree of sulfonation of at least 10%.
A frequently-touched surface for use by multiple users, the frequently-touched surface comprising:
A method to prevent transmission of microbes between multiple users of a computer having a touch screen display, wherein the multiple users operates the computer by touching a touch panel to provide input to the computer, the method comprises protecting the surface by applying a self-sterilizing protective sulfonated polymeric layer of a thickness of at least 1 µm to kill at least 90% microbes within 120 minutes of contact with the surface;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.