Anti-microbial fiber and fibrous products

A multi-layer laminate, comprising:

• two internal layers having high porosity therebetween, one of which is bonded to the other with lateral fibers traversing parts of both layers, one or both of the two internal layers including multi-component fibers of thermoplastic polymers, each fiber including
• a core of thermoplastic polymer being at least 20 and less than 70% of the fiber by weight, and
• a sheath being more than 30% of the fiber by weight and including (i) a thermoplastic polymer and (ii) an anti-microbial/anti-fungal inorganic additive being from 0.1% to 20% by weight of fiber, the thickness of the sheath in microns being approximately two times the nominal particle size in microns of the additive, and means for acquiring moisture vapor into the laminate and trapping it there, one of the internal layers having higher strength properties than the other and the other having a higher moisture retention capacity.

A multi-layer laminate of high porosity between two internal layers thereof, one of which is bonded to the other with lateral fibers traversing parts of both layers, one or both of such layers including bi-component fibers of thermoplastic polymers, each fiber including

• a core of thermoplastic polymer being at least 20 and less than 70% of the fiber by weight, and
• a sheath being more than 30% of the fiber by weight and including an additive 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, and means for acquiring moisture vapor into the laminate and trapping it there, one of the internal layers having higher strength properties than the other and the other having a higher moisture retention capacity.

A multi-layer laminate of high porosity between two internal layers thereof, one of which is bonded to the other with lateral fibers traversing parts of both layers, one or both of such layers including a binder fiber comprising a low temperature polymer with a melting or softening temperature below 200 degrees C., 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 binder fiber, the additive ranging from 0.1 to 20% by weight of the fiber, and 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, and means for acquiring moisture vapor into the laminate and trapping it there, one of the internal layers having higher strength properties than the other and the other having a higher moisture retention capacity.