Multi-component filament and other polymeric materials providing antimicrobial activity

Abstract

A multi-component filament including: (a) a first component comprising a first polymer, the first component extending longitudinally along a length of the multi-component filament; and (b) a second component comprising a second polymer, copper-containing particles dispersed throughout the second polymer, and copper-containing ions disposed throughout the second polymer, the second component extending longitudinally along the length of the multi-component filament. The second polymer can be one or more of polyethyleneimine, a nylon, an aramid precursor polymer, polyetherimide, a polyamide-imide, polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyimide, melamine resin, urea-formaldehyde, polyacrylonitrile, a copolyimide, an amide-containing polymer, a pyrrole-containing polymer, or an indole-containing polymer. The second component can further include an additive, such as one or more of 2-ethylhexylphosphate, imidazole, benzoxazole, benzimidazole, benzothiazole, benzopyrrole, phthalimide, urea, a nitrile, imidazole, a C pyrrole, an indole, a maleimide, a succinimide, an organo-phosphate, an organo-phosphite, or an organo-phosphonate, among others. A method of manufacturing the multi-component filament is disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.