EP1967618A2 - Antimicrobial filaments, method for their manufacture and use thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A textile fibre consists of a thermoplastic elastomer and a polymer with a melting point of less than 10[deg] C below that of the thermoplastic elastomer, and a halogenised Phenol. The thermoplastic is a polyurethane- elastomer, a thermoplastiic polyester-elastomer, thermoplastic styrol block-copolymer or a combination of these. The secondary polymer is polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide, or polyolefin.

Description

The present invention relates to elastic threads, in particular monofilaments, having excellent antimicrobial activity. These are particularly suitable for the production of textile fabrics, which are used in applications in which sterility and sterility combined with elastic behavior are in demand.

The antimicrobial finishing of threads is usually done by doping with heavy metal ions, such as silver ions, or by applying antimicrobial effective sizes to the thread surface. It has also been tried to introduce antimicrobial substances into the thread; However, this is usually limited to selected materials and the active substances are removed by washing comparatively quickly from the thread.

Halogenated phenols are known as antimicrobial agents. An example of this is triclosan, 2-hydroxy-4,2 ', 4'-trichlorodiphenyl ether.

Examples of antimicrobial finished threads are in CA-A-2,551,701 to find. There, a microbiocidally effective air filter is described, which has microbiocid-equipped threads. As antibacterial agent, for example triclosan is called; As a thread-forming material polyvinyl chloride is proposed.

DE-T-699 08 910 describes antimicrobial threads or textiles.

The equipment is made by superficially applying triclosan or a derivative thereof to the thread or textile surface. The specification states that coextrusion of triclosan with filament-forming materials is only possible with selected polymers and does not work with polyester, polyamide, cotton and lycra textiles.

US-A-6,299,651 discloses textiles finished with etherified triclosan derivatives. The active substance is applied by contact with the surface of the thread or the textile in the heat by diffusing.

DE-T-689 09 268 describes a method for modifying the surface of a solid plastic in which a surface is contacted with a basic swelling agent. Due to the modified surface, active substances can be introduced into the plastic.

There has now surprisingly been found a select group of spinnable polymers which permit the incorporation of large quantities of halogenated phenols and which permit the production of elastic filaments with a hitherto unavailable property profile. It has been found that the spinning of thermoplastic elastomers with halophenols in the form of a masterbatch results in such threads.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide elastic and antimicrobially finished threads and textiles which retain the antimicrobial effect even after several washes.

The invention relates to a yarn containing a) thermoplastic elastomer, b) polymer having a melting point of at least 10 ° C below the melting point of the thermoplastic elastomer and c) halogenated phenol.

In the context of this description, threads are generally understood to mean fibers of finite length (staple fibers), fibers of infinite length (filaments) and multifilaments composed thereof or secondary-spun yarns of staple fibers. Preference is given to melt-spun threads in the form of monofilaments.

Under monofilaments are understood in the context of this description individual threads. These typically have diameters of from 55 to 5000 .mu.m, preferably from 100 to 300 .mu.m.

The thermoplastic elastomers of component a) can be of very different types. Such polymers are usually elastomeric block copolymers and are known to those skilled in the art.

Examples of components a) are thermoplastic and elastomeric polyurethanes (TPE-U), thermoplastic and elastomeric polyesters (TPE-E), thermoplastic and elastomeric polyamides (TPE-A), thermoplastic and elastomeric polyolefins (TPE-O) and thermoplastic and elastomeric styrene Block copolymers (TPE-S).

The thermoplastic and elastomeric block copolymers a) can be made up of a wide variety of monomer combinations. As a rule, these are blocks of so-called hard and soft segments. The soft segments are typically derived from polyalkylene glycol ethers in TPE-U, TPE-E and TPE-A. The hard segments are typically derived from short chain diols or diamines in TPE-U, TPE-E and TPE-A. In addition to the diols or diamines, the hard and soft segments of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and / or aromatic dicarboxylic acids or diisocyanates are built up.

Examples of thermoplastic polyolefins are block copolymers comprising blocks of ethylene-propylene-butadiene and of polypropylene (EPDM / PP) or of nitrile-butadiene and of polypropylene (NBR / PP).

Particularly preferred components a) are thermoplastic and elastomeric polyurethanes and in particular thermoplastic and elastomeric polyether esters. Examples of these are block copolymers comprising blocks of polyethylene terephthalate and / or of polybutylene terephthalate and blocks of polyalkylene glycol terephthalate; or the blocks derived from aromatic and / or cycloaliphatic diisocyanate and alkylene and / or arylenediamine and blocks derived from aromatic and / or cycloaliphatic diisocyanate and α, ω-diamino-polyalkylene ether.

In the context of this description, thermoplastic and elastomeric polymers are to be understood as meaning block copolymers which behave at room temperature comparable to the conventional elastomers, but can be plastically deformed under heat supply and thus exhibit a thermoplastic behavior. These thermoplastic and elastomeric block copolymers have in some areas physical crosslinking points (e.g., minor valence forces or crystallites) that dissolve on heat without the polymer molecules decomposing.

As component b) selected polymers are used. This is the polymer component of the masterbatch used in the production of the threads according to the invention. In order to ensure sufficient spinnability and miscibility in the extruder, the melting point of the polymer of component b) should be at least 10 ° C below the melting point of the polymer of component a).

Examples of suitable polymers of component b) are polyesters, polycarbonates, polyamides, or in particular polyolefins.

As component b) it is possible to use preferably polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polybutylene naphthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, thermoplastic and elastomeric polyether esters (TPE-E) other than component a), polycarbonate, aliphatic polyamides such as nylon 6 or nylon 6.6, and in particular halogen-free polyolefins.

Preferably, as component b), those polymers are selected whose melting point is in the range from 140 to 220.degree.

Particularly preferred polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene and especially polypropylene as component b) are used.

As component c) halogenated phenols are used. These may be mono- or polynuclear phenols. These may have one or more phenolic hydroxyl groups. Suitable halogen substituents are fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine; Bromine and especially chlorine are particularly preferred.

Very particular preference is given to phenols with a diphenyl ether base, in particular those types having a phenolic hydroxyl group and two to four halogen substituents; most preferably those types having a phenolic hydroxyl group ortho to the ether oxygen.

Very particularly preferred component c) is 2-hydroxy-4,2 ', 4'-trichlorodiphenyl ether (triclosan).

The amounts of components a), b) and c) in the threads according to the invention can be selected within wide limits. Typically, the filaments contain 20 to 99.89% by weight of component a), 0.01 to 55% by weight of component b) and 0.1 to 25% by weight of component c), in each case based on the total mass of the filament ,

The components a), b) and c) required for producing the threads according to the invention are known per se, some are commercially available or can be prepared by processes known per se.

The threads according to the invention may contain, in addition to components a), b) and c), further auxiliaries d).

Examples of these are hydrolysis stabilizers, processing aids, antioxidants, plasticizers, lubricants, pigments, matting agents, viscosity modifiers, crystallization accelerators or dyes.

Examples of hydrolysis stabilizers are carbodiimides.

Examples of processing aids are siloxanes, waxes or longer-chain carboxylic acids or their salts, aliphatic, aromatic esters or ethers.

Examples of antioxidants are phosphorus compounds, such as phosphoric acid esters or sterically hindered phenols.

Examples of pigments or matting agents are organic dye pigments or titanium dioxide.

Examples of viscosity modifiers are polybasic carboxylic acids and their esters or polyhydric alcohols.

The proportion of the auxiliaries d) can amount to up to 20% by weight of the total mass of the thread.

The threads of the invention are preferably monofilaments.

The titer of the threads according to the invention can vary within wide limits. Examples are 30 to 45,000 dtex, more preferably between 100 and 1,000 dtex.

The cross-sectional shape of the threads according to the invention may be arbitrary, for example round, oval or n-cornered, where n is greater than or equal to 3.

Very particular preference is given to monofilaments having a round or n-shaped cross section whose titre is between 30 and 45,000 dtex; In particular, these monofilaments contain at least one dye which is used in medically sterile areas.

The threads of the invention can be prepared by methods known per se.

• i) Vermischen von Komponente a) und einem Masterbatch enthaltend Komponenten b) und c) in einem Extruder,
• ii) Extrudieren des Gemisches enthaltend Komponenten a), b) und c) durch eine Spinndüse,
• iii) Abziehen des gebildeten Filaments,
• iv) gegebenenfalls Verstrecken und/oder Relaxieren des gebildeten Filaments, und
• v) Aufspulen des gebildeten Filaments.

A typical manufacturing process comprises the measures:

• i) mixing component a) and a masterbatch containing components b) and c) in an extruder,
• ii) extruding the mixture comprising components a), b) and c) through a spinneret,
• iii) stripping off the formed filament,
• iv) optionally stretching and / or relaxing the formed filament, and
• v) winding the formed filament.

The production of the threads according to the invention can be carried out by conventional Melt spinning process, combined with one or more times stretching and optionally fixing the threads obtained.

The threads according to the invention are distinguished by a particularly good combination of elasticity and lasting antimicrobial properties.

It is surprising for the person skilled in the art that the halogenated phenol, in combination with a polymer in the form of a masterbatch, can be easily incorporated into the thermoplastic elastomer and mixed. There are no agglomerates of the masterbatch in the polymer matrix and the material is finely dispersed. In the mixture of chemically differently structured polymers, usually islands of the added polymer often form in the matrix of the base polymer. This can be seen from the large diameter fluctuations of the thread or at numerous thick points. These negative phenomena were surprisingly not observed here.

The threads of the invention are preferably used for the production of textile fabrics, in particular of woven, laid, knitted, braided or knitted fabrics.

The fabrics are preferably used in areas where sterility and sterility are in demand.

Of particular note is the fact that the antimicrobial property is permanently attached to the product since the masterbatch is evenly distributed throughout the cross section of the thread. Even after several washes, this property is retained without the need for post-preparation.

Examples of uses of the threads according to the invention are the use in mattresses, which are to be used preferably in hospitals, retirement and nursing homes, in upholstery, such as hospital chairs, in treadmills, in elastic straps, especially in the fitness area in trim equipment and sunbeds be used, in conveyor belts, in particular for hygiene and cosmetic articles, in filter cloths, in particular for rotary filters, such as chamber filter presses, or in textiles for the interior decoration of buildings or vehicles, especially for the interior of automobiles or aircraft or as seat covers or seat supports for office - or school furniture.

Textile fabrics containing the threads according to the invention are also the subject of this invention.

The invention also relates to the use of the described threads for the purposes stated above.

The following examples illustrate the invention without limiting it.

Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example

A thermoplastic, elastomeric polyetherester ("TPE-E") (Heraflex, Riteflex) and a Materbatch containing 20% by weight of triclosan and polypropylene (Sanitized MB P-96-61) were used.

Immediately before the feed zone of an extruder, TPE-E was admixed with an amount of 1.0% by weight (Example 1) or 1.5% by weight (Example 2) of the masterbatch. After extrusion, the polymer was melt spun through a spinner, quenched the individual filaments in a water bath, and then repeatedly stretched, heat set, post-baked, and each filament individually in three stages, each of which was heatable wound. The process data and the obtained textile values of the monofilaments are listed in the table below.

As a comparison, a monofilament without masterbatch additive was spun.

The samples were tested in the laboratory of Sanitized AG according to the method SN 195 920 Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. Already the pattern 1 showed no bacterial growth and a good effect, in contrast to the untreated standard. table Example no. Lot of masterbatch growth Antibacterial effect 1 1% no Good 2 1.5% no Good comparison 0% medium insufficient

Claims (15)

Thread comprising a) thermoplastic elastomer, b) polymer having a melting point of at least 10 ° C below the melting point of the thermoplastic elastomer and c) halogenated phenol. Thread according to claim 1, characterized in that component a) is a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, a thermoplastic polyester elastomer, a thermoplastic styrene block copolymer or a combination of two or more of these components. Thread according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that component b) is a polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide, or polyolefin. Thread according to Claim 3, characterized in that component b) is polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polybutylene naphthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, component a) of different thermoplastic and elastomeric polyether esters, polycarbonate, aliphatic polyamide and halogen-free polyolefin. A thread according to claim 4, characterized in that the halo-free polyolefin is polypropylene. Thread according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the halogenated phenol is a halogeno-ortho-hydroxydiphenyl ether. Thread according to claim 6, characterized in that the halogeno-ortho-hydroxydiphenyl ether is 2-hydroxy-4,2 ', 4'-trichloro-diphenyl ether. Thread according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is a monofilament. A thread according to claim 8, characterized in that the monofilament has a round or n-square cross-section and a titer between 0.5 and 25,000 dtex. Thread according to claim 9, characterized in that the monofilament contains at least one dye which is used in medically sterile areas. Thread according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that this 20 to 99.89 wt.% Of component a), 0.01 to 55 wt.% Of component b) and 0.1 to 25 wt.% Of component c), wherein the quantities are based on the total mass of the thread. Process for the production of the thread according to claim 1 comprising the measures: i) mixing component a) and a masterbatch containing components b) and c) in an extruder, ii) extruding the mixture comprising components a), b) and c) through a spinneret, iii) stripping off the formed filament, iv) optionally stretching and / or relaxing the formed filament, and v) winding the formed filament. Textile fabric containing threads according to one of claims 1 to 11. Textile fabric according to claim 13, characterized in that this is a woven, knitted, knitted, braided or scrim. Use of the thread according to one of claims 1 to 11 in mattresses, upholstery, elastic belts, treadmills, conveyor belts, filter cloths or textiles for the interior decoration of buildings or vehicles.