Antibacterial cellulose fiber and production process thereof

• US 5,985,301 A
• Filed: 02/11/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenji Nakamura, Koji Nakamura
• Original Assignee: Kenji Nakamura, Koji Nakamura
• Inventors: Nakamura, Koji, Nakamura, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Neil S.
• Application Number:
  US09/022,101
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 510/445, 424/404, 424/405, 424/407, 424/411, 424/412, 424/413, 424/414, 424/415, 424/421, 424/618, 574/495, 574/611, 574/644, 442/123
• US Class Current: 424/404
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/103 Agents inhibiting growth of microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 2/00 Monocomponent artificial filaments or the like of cellulose or cellulose derivatives; Manufacture thereof

Abstract

A production process of cellulose fiber is characterized in that tertiary amine N-oxide is used as a solvent for pulp, and a silver-based antibacterial agent and optionally magnetized mineral ore powder are added, followed by solvent-spinning. The cellulose fiber exhibits an excellent long lasting antibacterial effect and serves preferably as medical products such as bandage, gauze, and surgical robes.

Claims

1. A process of producing an antibacterial fiber product, comprising the steps of:

(a) dissolving pulp in an amine oxide solution to obtain a cellulose solution;

(b) adding an inorganic antibacterial agent of silver in slurry to the cellulose solution in an amount of 0.1%-5.0% by weight based on the weight of the cellulose in the solution;

(c) spinning a cellulose fiber out of the cellulose solution into an aqueous solution by solvent-spinning; and

(d) producing an antibacterial fiber product from the cellulose fiber.

2. A process according to claim 1, further comprising adding magnetized mineral ore powder to the cellulose solution in an amount of 0.1%-5.0% by weight based on the weight of the cellulose in the solution.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the amine oxide is selected from the group consisting of N-mehylmorpholine N-oxide, N,N-dimethylethanolamine N-oxide, N,N-dimethylbenzylamine N-oxide, N,N,N-triethylamine N-oxide, and dimethylcyclohexyl N-oxide.

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the amine oxide solution contains 6%-21% water.