Hydrophilic polyurethane foam articles comprising an antimicrobial compound

Abstract

Foamed polyurethane articles, such as a sponges, sheets, tapes or ribbons, blocks or other molded, extruded or cast article which foamed polyurethane articles comprising one or more quaternary ammonium compounds having germicidal properties and are particularly useful in the formation of cleaning articles. Processes for the manufacture of such cleaning articles based on hydrophilic polyurethane foams exhibit an antimicrobial benefit and their use are also described.

1 . A foamed hydrophilic polyurethane composition comprising one more quaternary ammonium compounds having germicidal properties which following at least twenty five (25) rinse/squeeze cycles an elution of at least about 100 parts per million of germicidal quaternary ammonium compounds in the fluid squeezed or wrung from the article.  
   
   
       2 . A foamed hydrophilic polyurethane composition according to  claim 1  which, following at least fifty (50) rinse/squeeze cycles an elution of at least about 100 parts per million of germicidal quaternary ammonium compounds in the fluid squeezed or wrung from the article.  
   
   
       3 . A foamed hydrophilic polyurethane composition according to  claim 1  which further comprises a nonionic surfactant.  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . A cleaning article comprising a foamed hydrophilic polyurethane composition according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning article comprises at least one layer of a fibrous substrate bonded to a sponge formed from the foamed polyurethane composition.  
   
   
       6 . A cleaning article comprising a foamed hydrophilic polyurethane composition according to  claim 4  wherein the cleaning article comprises at least two layers of a fibrous substrate bonded to a sponge formed from the foamed polyurethane composition.  
   
   
       7 . A cleaning article according to  claim 5  which exhibits, following at least fifty (50) rinse/squeeze cycles an elution of at least about 200 parts per million of the germicidal quaternary ammonium compounds in the water squeezed or wrung from the article.  
   
   
       8 . A cleaning article according to  claim 5 , wherein the maximum thickness of the polyurethane foam layer present in a cleaning article has a maximum thickness dimension not in excess of about 10 millimeters, which cleaning article exhibits, following at least ten (10) rinse/squeeze cycles an elution of at least about 200 parts per million of germicidal quaternary ammonium compounds in the fluid squeezed or wrung from the article.  
   
   
       9 . A process for cleaning or sanitizing a surface in need of treatment which process contemplates the steps of: 
 providing a foamed polyurethane composition according to  claim 1 , and,    contacting the said surface with the said foamed polyurethane composition so to provide a cleaning or sanitizing effect thereto.    
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A process for the manufacture of a foamed hydrophilic polyurethane composition according to  claim 1  which process comprises the process steps of: 
 providing a reaction mixture comprising at least a polyurethane prepolymer and a quaternary ammonium germicidal properties, and    subsequently forming the foamed hydrophilic polyurethane composition.    
   
   
       12 . A foamed hydrophilic polyurethane composition formed by the process according to  claim 11 .  
   
   
       13 . A process for the manufacture of a cleaning article according to  claim 5  which process comprises the process steps of: 
 providing a reaction mixture comprising at least a polyurethane prepolymer and a quaternary ammonium germicidal properties, and    subsequently forming the foamed hydrophilic polyurethane composition used in the cleaning article.    
   
   
       14 . A cleaning article formed by the process according to  claim 13 .  
   
   
       15 . A foamed hydrophilic polyurethane composition according to  claim 2  which further comprises a nonionic surfactant.  
   
   
       16 . A cleaning article according to  claim 6  which exhibits, following at least fifty (50) rinse/squeeze cycles an elution of at least about 200 parts per million of the germicidal quaternary ammonium compounds in the water squeezed or wrung from the article.  
   
   
       17 . A cleaning article according to  claim 6  wherein the maximum thickness of the polyurethane foam layer present in a cleaning article has a maximum thickness dimension not in excess of about 10 millimeters, which cleaning article exhibits, following at least ten (10) rinse/squeeze cycles an elution of at least about 200 parts per million of germicidal quaternary ammonium compounds in the fluid squeezed or wrung from the article.  
   
   
       18 . A process for cleaning or sanitizing a surface in need of treatment which process contemplates the steps of: 
 providing a foamed polyurethane article according to  claim 5 , and,    contacting the said surface with the said foamed polyurethane article so to provide a cleaning or sanitizing effect thereto.    
   
   
       19 . A process for cleaning or sanitizing a surface in need of treatment which process contemplates the steps of: 
 providing a foamed polyurethane article according to  claim 6 , and,    contacting the said surface with the said foamed polyurethane article so to provide a cleaning or sanitizing effect thereto.