Antimicrobial composite

Abstract

An antimicrobial composite which comprises a first, liquid-permeable layer and a second layer arranged on the first layer. An antimicrobial metal in elemental form is present between the first and second layers and substantially no antimicrobial metal in elemental form is present on exterior surfaces of the composite. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

1 . An antimicrobial composite comprising a first, liquid-permeable layer and a second layer arranged on the first layer, wherein an antimicrobial metal in elemental form as such is present between the first and second layers and substantially no antimicrobial metal in elemental form is present on exterior surfaces of the composite.  
     
     
         2 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a foramenous material.  
     
     
         3 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises at least one of a hole and a mesh structure.  
     
     
         4 . The composite of  claim 2 , wherein the first layer comprises at least one of a perforated film and a mesh.  
     
     
         5 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a polyolefin.  
     
     
         6 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a polyethylene mesh.  
     
     
         7 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises openings having a size of from about 250 μm to about 1400 μm.  
     
     
         8 . The composite of  claim 7 , wherein the polyethylene mesh comprises openings having a size of from about 400 μm to about 700 μm.  
     
     
         9 . The composite of  claim 7 , wherein the openings have a substantially triangular shape.  
     
     
         10 . The composite of  claim 9 , wherein the openings provide an open area of from about 15% to about 60% of the surface area of the first layer.  
     
     
         11 . The composite of  claim 2 , wherein the first layer has a thickness of from about 0.02 mm to about 0.8 mm.  
     
     
         12 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer is a liquid-absorbing layer.  
     
     
         13 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises at least one of a perforated film and a mesh.  
     
     
         14 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer has a thickness of from about 0.02 mm to about 2.5 mm.  
     
     
         15 . The composite of  claim 12 , wherein the second layer has a liquid-absorbing capacity of from about 300 g/m 2  to about 2000 g/m 2 .  
     
     
         16 . The composite of  claim 12 , wherein the second layer comprises a textile sheet.  
     
     
         17 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises at least one of viscose, polyolefin and polyester.  
     
     
         18 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer has a thickness of from about 0.3 mm to about 2.4 mm.  
     
     
         19 . The composite of  claim 18 , wherein the second layer has an area weight of from about 80 g/m 2  to about 200 g/m 2 .  
     
     
         20 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises a superabsorber.  
     
     
         21 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial metal comprises at least one of Ag, Au, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ir, Zn, Sn, Sb, Bi and alloys comprising one or more of these metals.  
     
     
         22 . The composite of  claim 2 , wherein the antimicrobial metal comprises Ag and alloys thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial metal is provided as a coating on at least one of the surfaces of the first and second layers.  
     
     
         24 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial metal is present as a layer which comprises the antimicrobial metal and is arranged between the first and second layers.  
     
     
         25 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the composite has a sheet-like structure.  
     
     
         26 . The composite of  claim 25 , wherein the antimicrobial metal is present in an amount of from about 1 mg/m 2  to about 1 g/m 2 .  
     
     
         27 . The composite of  claim 26 , wherein the antimicrobial metal comprises silver which is present in an amount of from about 50 mg/m 2  to about 450 mg/m 2 .  
     
     
         28 . The composite of  claim 3 , wherein the first layer has a silver coating on a surface thereof which faces the second layer.  
     
     
         29 . The composite of  claim 28 , wherein an intermediate layer is arranged between the silver coating and the first layer.  
     
     
         30 . The composite of  claim 29 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises aluminum.  
     
     
         31 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the composite has a thickness of from about 0.4 mm to about 2.5 mm.  
     
     
         32 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the composite has a peeling strength of from about 0.05 N/cm to about 1.5 N/cm.  
     
     
         33 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the composite has a maximum tensile strength of from about 10 N/cm to about 40 N/cm.  
     
     
         34 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein the composite shows a 24-hour release of the antimicrobial metal of from about 0.05 mg/m 2  to about 3 mg/m 2 .