Capillary-channeled polymer fibers modified for defense against chemical and biological contaminants

• US 20110003144A1
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clemson University
• Original Assignee: Clemson University
• Inventors: Marcus, R. Kenneth, Cole, Christine W., Brown, Philip John, Luzinov, Igor A.
• Application Number:
  US11/983,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20110003144A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/332
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/253 with a non-circular cross section; Spinnerette packs therefor D01D5/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 10/025 Corona discharge or low temperature plasma
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/38 Oxides or hydroxides of elements of Groups 1 or 11 of the Periodic Table
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/76 with carbon oxides or carbonates D06M11/75 takes precedence; with percarbonic acids or their salts D06M11/50; with urea D06M13/432
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/263 of unsaturated carboxylic acids; Salts or esters thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/273 of unsaturated carboxylic esters having epoxy groups
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/61 Polyamines polyimines
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/08 Processes in which the treating agent is applied in powder or granular form adhesives for multi-layer textile fabrics D06M17/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2978 Surface characteristic

Abstract

A method of preparing a fiber or an article suitable for use in defending against a biological or a chemical contaminant, and the fiber or article resulting from the method thereof, is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a fiber such as a capillary-channeled fiber with a surface having grooves or channels thereon and modifying the surface of the fiber with an active agent so as to provide the fiber with the ability to defend against a biological or a chemical contaminant.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a fiber for use in defending against a biological or a chemical contaminant, the method comprising:

providing a fiber having a non-circular cross section and a fiber surface, and modifying the fiber surface of the fiber with an active agent to defend against a biological or a chemical contaminant.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fiber is a capillary-channeled fiber with a surface having grooves or channels thereon.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the fiber surface of the non-circular cross section fiber is modified by deposition of a coating in the grooves or channels of the fiber.

4. The method according to claim 2;

wherein the fiber surface of the non-circular cross section fiber is modified by deposition of particulate matter in the grooves or channels of the fiber.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the coating provides bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal activity against a biological contaminant or absorptive, adsorptive or neutralizing activity against a chemical contaminant.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the particulate matter provides bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal activity against a biological contaminant or absorptive, adsorptive or neutralizing activity against a chemical contaminant.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the grooves or channels of the fiber are of a size capable of entrapping or repelling airborne particulate matter.

8. A method of making a fiber for use in defending against a biological or a chemical contaminant, the method comprising:

selecting a fiber to have a non-circular cross section and a fiber shape to defend against an identified biological or chemical contaminant, and extruding the fiber.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the extruded fiber is a capillary-channeled fiber with a surface having grooves or channels thereon.

10. A fiber for use in defending against a biological or a chemical contaminant wherein the fiber comprises a non-circular cross section and a fiber shape that is selected to defend against an identified chemical or biological contaminant.

11. The fiber according to claim 10, wherein the fiber is a capillary-channeled fiber with a surface having grooves or channels thereon.

12. The fiber according to claim 10, wherein the fiber is modified by deposition of a coating within the grooves or channels of the fiber.

13. The fiber according to claim 10, wherein the fiber is modified by deposition of particulate matter within the grooves or channels of the fiber.

14. The fiber according to claim 12, where the coating wherein provides bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal activity against a biological contaminant or absorptive, adsorptive or neutralizing activity against a chemical contaminant.

15. The fiber according to claim 13;

where the particulate matter provides bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal activity against a biological contaminant or absorptive, adsorptive or neutralizing activity against a chemical contaminant.

16. The fiber according to claim 11, wherein the grooves or channels of the fiber are of a size capable of entrapping or repelling airborne particulate matter.

17. A method of preparing an article for use in defending against a biological or a chemical contaminant, the method comprising:

providing a fiber having a non-circular cross section and a fiber surface having grooves or channels thereon, wherein the grooves or channels comprise an active agent having bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal activity against a biological contaminant or having absorptive, adsorptive or neutralizing activity against a chemical contaminant, and forming an article comprising the fiber.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the grooves or channels of the fiber are of a size capable of entrapping or repelling airborne particulate matter.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the active agent is a coating, particulate matter, or a combination thereof.

19. An article for use in defending against a biological or a chemical contaminant, the article comprising:

a fiber having a non-circular cross section and a fiber surface having grooves or channels thereon, wherein the grooves or channels comprise an active agent having bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal activity against a biological contaminant or having absorptive, adsorptive or neutralizing activity against a chemical contaminant.

20. The article according to claim 19, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a face mask, filter, tent netting, and fabric.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the active agent is a coating, particulate matter, or a combination thereof.