The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 10, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 09, 2000
Robert S. Watterson, III, Charlotte, NC (US);
William D. Hanrahan, Charlotte, NC (US);
Microban Products Company, Huntersville, NC (US);
Abstract
An acrylic material having antimicrobial characteristics that inhibit bacterial growth includes an acrylic polymer and an antimicrobial agent incorporated therein. The acrylic polymer is a conventional acrylonitrile compound. The antimicrobial agent is incorporated into the amorphous zones of the molecular structure of the acrylic polymer. When the acrylic material is formed using conventional techniques, the antimicrobial additive is incorporated into the amorphous zones of the molecular structure of the acrylic polymer using a solubilizing agent carrier, thereby incorporating the antimicrobial agent into the acrylic polymer. The antimicrobial additive in the acrylic material, incorporated in the manner above, results in substantive controlled migration from within the acrylic material to the surface of the acrylic material, until a point of equilibrium is reached.