Purthread Technologies, Inc.

Lloyd Frick

Stanley Dawes Chamberlain

Stephen Woodrow Foss

Martin Wade Beasley

Lisa Thomas Grimes

Alan Fenner Boyd

David John Reed

High-melting antimicrobial polymer fibers and antimicrobial fabrics comprising such fibers are prepared by preparing a masterbatch of polymer pellets (e.g., PET), silver and copper salts, and a compounding agent which provides free flowing polymer pellets which can be prepared in advance, with a long shelf life. Polymer masterbatches prepared by the methods of the invention can produce limited color or off-white antimicrobial fibers and fabrics using conventional melt spinning manufacturing methods. Fabrics incorporating fibers of the present invention are potent inhibitors of Athlete's foot fungi, gram negative and gram positive bacteria, and drug resistant pathogens.

Antimicrobial and antifungal polymer fibers, fabrics, and methods of manufacture thereof

A method of making synthetic polymer pellet feedstock having a high concentration of an anti-microbial agent includes the steps of: introducing a polymer into a mixing vessel; introducing a polysiloxane dispersant into the mixing vessel; introducing an anti-microbial agent comprised of a powdered metal material into the mixing vessel; heating and mixing the polymer, the polysiloxane dispersant and the anti-microbial agent to form a molten blend that exhibits a generally homogenous dispersal of the anti-microbial agent; extruding the molten blend to form filaments; and cutting the filaments to form metalized synthetic polymer pellet feedstock. The powdered metal material includes particles of silver in metallic or salt form measuring between about 2 micrometers and about 12 micrometers and particles of copper in metallic or salt form measuring between about 2 micrometers and about 12 micrometers.

Method for making polymer feedstock usable for generation of fiber having anti-microbial properties

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Lloyd Frick