Compositions containing antimicorbial agents in combination with stabilizers

An article selected from the group consisting of fibers and films, said article having resistance to microbial attack, said article comprising a homogeneous mixture of:

• A. a polyamide resin;
• B. an antimicrobial agent;
• and
• C. an antioxidant;
• wherein said ingredients A, B, and C are combined to form a composition before said composition is melt-processed to form said article.

The article of claiim 29, wherein said antioxidant is at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

• monophenols;
• bisphenols;
• thiobisphenols;
• polyphenols;
• hydroquinones;
• phosphites;
• thioesters;
• naphthylamines;
• diarylamines;
• p-phenylenediamines;
• quinolines;
• blended amines;
• O,O-di-n-octadecyl(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)phosphonate;
• 1. 6-hexamethylene bis(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate;
• 1,6-hexamethylene bis(3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate);
• thiodiethylene bis(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxy)hydrocinnamate;
• thiodiethylene bis(3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate);
• octadecyl-3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate;
• octadecyl-3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate;
• 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamic acid triester with 1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine-2,4,6-(1H,3H,5H)trione;
• N-butyryl-p-aminophenol;
• N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butyramide;
• N-pelargonoyl-p-aminophenol;
• N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)pelargonamide;
• N-lauroyl-p-aminophenol;
• N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)dodecanamide;
• 2,6-di-t-butyl-alpha-dimethylamino-p-cresol;
• 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol;
• 1,3,5-tris(4-t-butyl-3-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylbenzyl)-s-triazine-2,4,6-(1H,3H, 5H)trione;
• nickel bis(0-ethyl(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)phosphonate);
• 2. 2'-oxamidobisethyl-3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate;
• tris(2-t-butyl-4-(2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-butylphenylthio)-5-methyl)-phenylp hosphite;
• bis(3,3-bis(4-hydroxy-3-t-butylphenyl)butanoic acid glycolester;
• tetrakis(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl)-4,4'-biphenylylenediphosphonite;
• n-propyl gallate;
• n-propyl-3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate;
• calcium bis(0-ethyl(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)phosphonate);
• 2-mercapto-4-methylbenzimidazole;
• 2-mercapto-5-methylbenzimidazole;
• zinc salt of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole;
• 2-mercapto-4-methylbenzimidazole, zinc salt;
• 2-mercapto-5-methylbenzimidazole, zinc salt;
• 2-mercaptotoluimidazole;
• zinc-2-mercaptotoluimidazole;
• dioctadecyl disulfide;
• metal aromatic sulfonates;
• nickel di-n-butyldithiocarbamate;
• nickel diisobutyldithiocarbamate;
• nickel dimethyldithiocarbamate;
• 3,9-bis(3-cyclohexenyl)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro(5,5)undecane;
• and
• tris(5-norbornene-2-methyl)phosphite.

A thermoplastic composition which will be resistant to microbial attack after being processed at an elevated temperature, comprising a homogeneous mixture of:

• A. a resin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyamide, and polyvinyl chloride;
• B. an antimicrobial agent;
• and
• C. an amount of an antioxidant effective to reduce degradation of said antimicrobial agent while said composition is being melt processed, wherein said antioxidant is at least one member selected from the group consisting of:
• hydroquinones;
• thioesters;
• naphthylamines;
• diarylamines;
• p-phenylenediamines;
• quinolines;
• blended amines;
• tetrakis(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl)-4,4'-biphenylylenediphosphonite;
• 2-mercapto-4-methylbenzimidazole;
• 2-mercapto-5-methylbenzimidazole;
• zinc salt of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole;
• 2-mercapto-4-methylbenzimidazole, zinc salt;
• 2-mercapto-5-methylbenzimidazole, zinc salt;
• 2-mercaptotoluimidazole;
• zinc 2-mercaptotoluimidazole;
• dioctadecyl disulfide;
• metal aromatic sulfonates;
• nickel di-n-butyldithiocarbamate;
• nickel diisobutyldithiocarbamate;
• nickel dimethyldithiocarbamate;
• and
• 3,9-bis(3-cyclohexenyl)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro(5,5)undecane.

An article selected from the group consisting of fibers and films, said article having resistance to microbial attack, said article comprising a homogeneous mixture of:

• A. a polymeric resin selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyvinyl chlorides and polypropylene;
• B. an antimicrobial agent;
• and
• C. an antioxidant;
• wherein said ingredients A, B, and C are combined to form a composition before said composition is meltprocessed to form said article, and wherein said antioxidant is at least one member selected from the group consisting of:
• hydroquinones;
• thioesters;
• naphthylamines;
• diarylamines;
• p-phenylenediamines;
• quinolines;
• blended amines;
• tetrakis(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl)-4,4'-biphenylylenediphosphonite;
• 2-mercapto-4-methylbenzimidazole;
• 2-mercapto-5-methylbenzimidazole;
• zinc salt of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole;
• 2-mercapto-4-methylbenzimidazole, zinc salt;
• 2-mercapto-5-methylbenzimidazole, zinc salt;
• 2-mercaptotoluimidazole;
• zinc-2-mercaptotoluimidazole;
• dioctadecyl disulfide
• metal aromatic sulfonates;
• nickel di-n-butyldithiocarbamate;
• nickel diisobutyldithiocarbamate;
• nickel dimethyldithiocarbamate;
• and
• 3,9-bis(3-cyclohexenyl)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro(5,5)undecane.

A method for providing a desired final active level of at least 1 part by weight of 10,10'-oxybisphenoxarsine in a composition following heat processing thereof, comprising the steps of:

• A. providing a thermoplastic composition comprising a major proportion of a resin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyamide, and polyvinyl chloride;
• about 1.7 parts by weight of 10,10'-oxybisphenoxarsine;
• and from about 1.7 to about 8.5 parts by weight of an antioxidant;
• and
• B. processing said composition at a temperature of at lest about 275 degrees Celsius;
• thereby providing a heat-processed composition containing at least about 1.0 parts by weight of said 10,10'-oxybisphenoxarsine in active form.

A method for providing a desired final active level of at least 1 part by weight of 10,10'-oxybisphenoxarsine in a composition following heat processing thereof, comprising the steps of:

• A. providing a thermoplastic composition comprising about 1.7 parts by weight of 10,10'-oxybisphenoxarsine, from about 1.7 to about 8.5 parts by weight of an antioxidant, and a major proportion of a polyamide resin;
• and
• B. processing said thermoplastic composition at a temperature of at least about 275 degreess Celsius;
• thereby providing a heat-processed composition containing about 1.0 parts by weight of said 10,10'-oxybisphenoxarsine in active form.