Active-powder biocidal composition comprising at least one copper salt and at least one zinc salt and the method for the production thereof

A method for formulating an antibacterial and antifungal controlled release biocide polymer-incorporated yarn comprising the steps of:

• mixing three salts in an oxygen-free environment, in a temperature range of 10-50 C, using a continuous mixer until the particles size of the salts is below a threshold value, said three salts selected to result in controlled and time-distributed release of biocides over an extended duration, including;
• a first copper-based salt;
• a second zinc-based salt;
• and
• a third salt, said third salt being either copper-based or zinc-based;
• at least one of said salts selected to have a solubility constant from 9*10−11 to 9*10−6;
• at least one of said salts selected to have a solubility constant from 9*10−16 to 9*10−11;
• and
• at least one of said salts selected to have a solubility constant from 9*10−16 to 9*10−20;
• adding a polymer to form a resultant mixture so said mixture comprises 30-99.99% polymer, said polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC, polyamide, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), and polycarbonate;
• and
• incorporating by extrusion or injection said resultant mixture into a yarn suitable for a garment material;
• wherein said resultant mixture results in controlled time-distributed release of biocide ions.