Hydrophilic polymer composition

• US 7,230,043 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Klun, Thomas P., Ross, Richard B., Boardman, Larry D., Caldwell, Gregg A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mulcahy; Peter D.
• Application Number:
  US10/935,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 524/167, 524/243
• US Class Current: 524/167
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/435 Sulfonamides
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/10 Homopolymers or copolymers of propene
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2555/40 Mixtures based upon bitumen or asphalt containing functional additives
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/22 Macromolecular compounds not provided for in C08L2666/16 - C08L2666/20
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/02 Polyalkylene oxides

Abstract

A hydrophilic polymer composition is described comprising thermoplastic of thermoset polymer, and a fluorochemical additive dispersed therein. The hydrophilic composition is useful, for example, in medical and surgical drapes.

Claims

1. A hydrophilic polymer composition comprising

a) a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer, and

b) a hydrophilic fluorochemical additive of the formula:

R_f—

Q—

Y—

Q′

—

R_h

wherein

R_f is a C₃ to C₅ fluoroalkyl group

Q is a divalent linking group;

Q′

is selected from a covalent bond, —

(C_mH_2m)C(O)O—

, where m=1 to 3, and —

C(O)—

;

Y is a hydrophilic poly(oxyalkylene) moiety having from 8 to 15 repeat units; and

R_h is a C₈–

C₁₅ alkyl group, an aryl group or combination thereof.

2. The composition of claim 1 comprising 0.1 to 5 weight % of said fluorochemical relative to said composition.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said poly(oxyalkylene) moiety comprises a poly(oxyethylene) moiety.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein R_f is a perfluoroalkyl group.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein Q comprises —

C_nH_2n—

, where n is 1 to 6, —

C_nH_2n-1X—

, where n is 1 to 6 and X is halogen or —

OH;

—

S—

, —

O—

, —

CO—

, —

SO₂—

, —

N(R)—

, or —

SO₂N(R)—

, where R is a hydrogen or a C₁ to C₆ substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group;

or combinations thereof.

6. The composition of claim 5 wherein Q is selected from the group consisting of —

SO₂N(R)—

, —

CON(R)—

, —

CH₂CH₂SO₂N(R)—

, SO₂N(R)C_nH_2nO[CH₂CH(CH₂Cl)O]_gCH₂CH(CH₂Cl)O—

(n=1 to 6;

g=1 to

     10), —

SO₂N(R)C₂H₄OCH₂CH(OH)CH₂O—

, —

SO₂N(R)C₂H₄OCH₂CH(OH)CH₂O—

, —

SO₂N(R)CH₂CH(OH)CH₂NHCH(CH₃)CH₂O—

, —

SO₂N(R)CH₂CH(OH)CH₂O—

, —

(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₂O—

, and —

(CH₂)₄SCH(CH₃)CH₂O—

, where R is a hydrogen or a C₁ to C₆ substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group.

7. The composition of claim 6 wherein Q is selected from the group consisting of —

SO₂N(R)—

, and —

SO₂N(R)CH₂CH(OH)CH₂O—

, where R is R is a hydrogen or a C₁ to C₆ alkyl group.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein R_h is a C₈–

C₁₅ branched alkyl group.

9. The composition of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyolefin polymer or copolymer.

10. The composition of claim 9 wherein said polyolefin comprises a propylene polymer or copolymer.

11. The composition of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polypropylene/polybutylene blend.

12. The composition of claim 1 comprising (a) a major amount of at least one semi-crystalline thermoplastic first polymer, said first polymer being polypropylene;

(b) an amount of said fluorochemical additive sufficient to modify surface properties of articles made of said composition; and

(c) a minor amount of at least one second thermoplastic polymer sufficient to increase said modification of surface properties compared to such composition without said second polymer.

13. The composition of claim 12 wherein said second polymer being selected from the group consisting of polybutylene and copolymers of butylene and ethylene;

wherein said additive is present in an amount of about 0.1 to about 2.0 weight percent and said second polymer is present in an amount of about 2 to about 25 weight percent, said weight percentages being based upon the total weight of all components.

14. The composition of claim 1, wherein said thermoset polymer is selected from, polyurethanes, alkyd resins, phenolic resins, amino resins, epoxy resins, unsaturated polyesters, allylics, fluoroelastomers, polymethacrylates and polyacrylates.

15. The composition of claim 1 comprising 0.5 to 1.5 weight % of said fluorochemical relative to said composition.

16. A shaped article comprising the composition of claim 1.

17. The shaped article of claim 16 in the form of a fiber, film or fabric.

18. A medical article comprising a nonwoven fibrous layer comprising the fibers of claim 17.

19. The medical article of claim 18 further comprising at least one additional layer selected from film layers, woven layers and nonwoven layers.

20. The medical article of claim 19 further comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on said film layer.

21. The medical article of claim 19 wherein said film layer is a liquid impermeable and vapor permeable film layer.

29. The composition of claim 8 wherein R_h is 2,6,8-trimethyl-4-nonyl.

30. The composition of claim 1 wherein said additive is selected from

C₃F₇SO₂N(C₂H₅)(CH₂CH₂O)_xC₈H₁₇,

C₃F₇SO₂N(CH₃)(CH₂CH₂O)_xC₈H₁₇,

C₄F₉SO₂N(C₂H₅)(CH₂CH₂O)_xC₈H₁₇,

C₄F₉SO₂N(CH₃)(CH₂CH₂O)_xC₈H₁₇,

C₄F₉SO₂N(CH₃)(CH₂CH₂O)_xCH[CH₂CH(CH₃)₂][CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂CH(CH₃)₂],

C₄F₉SO₂N(C₂H₅)(CH₂CH₂O)_xCH[CH₂CH(CH₃)₂][CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂CH(CH₃)₂],

C₃F₇SO₂N(CH₃)(CH₂CH₂O)_xCH[CH₂CH(CH₃)₂][CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂CH(CH₃)₂],

C₅F₁₁SO₂N(CH₃)(CH₂CH₂O)_xCH[CH₂CH(CH₃)₂][CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂CH(CH₃)₂],

C₅F₁₁SO₂N(CH₃)(CH₂CH₂O)_xC₁₀H₂₁,

C₄F₉SO₂N(CH₃)(CH₂CH₂O)_xC₆H₄—

C(CH₃)₂—

CH₂—

C(CH₃)₃,

C₅F₁₁SO₂N(CH₃)(CH₂CH₂O)_xC₁₄H₂₉,

C₃F₇SO₂N(CH₃)(CH₂CH₂O)_xC₆H₄—

C₈H₁₇,

C₄F₉SO₂N(CH₃)CH₂CH(OH)CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_xC₆H₄C(CH₃)₂—

CH₂—

C(CH₃)₃,

C₄F₉SO₂N(CH₃)CH₂CH(OH)CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_xCH[CH₂CH(CH₃)₂][CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂CH(CH₃)₂], and

C₄F₉SO₂N(CH₃)(CH₂CH₂O)_xC(O)—

C₁₁H₂₃, wherein x for each of the depicted compounds is 8–

15.

22. A method of preparing a hydrophilic shaped article comprising:

a) blending thermoplastic or thermoset polymer with a hydrophilic fluorochemical additive of the formula;

R_f—

Q—

Y—

Q′

—

R_h

wherein

R_f is a C₃ to C₅ fluoroalkyl group

Q is a divalent linking group;

Q′

is selected from a covalent bond, —

(C_mH_2m)—

C(O)O—

, where m=1 to 3, and —

C(O)—

;

Y is a hydrophilic poly(oxyalkylene) moiety having from 8 to 15 repeat units; and

R_h is a C₈–

C₁₅ alkyl group, an aryl group or combination thereof;

wherein said mixture is present in the thermoplastic polymer at a concentration sufficient to impart hydrophilicity to the polymer;

(b) processing the blend to produce a shaped article with the fluorochemical additive dispersed within the shaped article and present at its surfaces to render those surfaces hydrophilic.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is normally hydrophobic and is selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, and blends thereof.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said fluorochemical additive comprises 0.1 to 5 weight % relative to said composition.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyolefin polymer or copolymer.

26. The composition of claim 25 wherein said polyolefin comprises a propylene polymer or copolymer.

27. The composition of claim 25 wherein said thermoplastic polymer comprises a polypropylene/polybutylene blend.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of annealing said shaped article.