Textile Composite Material for Decontaminating the Skin

Abstract

An absorbent textile composite material for decontaminating the skin. The absorbent textile composite material comprises a flexible carrier layer and an active layer connected with the carrier layer. The active layer comprises a nanofiber nonwoven filled with a superabsorbent to absorb and retain noxious substances from the skin. The absorbent textile composite material is used in a method for decontaminating the skin from noxious substances without a washing and/or massage procedure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent textile composite material for decontaminating skin, comprising:
 a carrier layer; and   an active layer connected with the carrier layer, the active layer comprising a nanofiber nonwoven filled with a superabsorbent to absorb and retain noxious substances from the skin.   
     
     
         2 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer and the active layer are integrally formed with each other. 
     
     
         3 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer and the active layer are bonded to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer is impermeable to water vapor. 
     
     
         5 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer is permeable to heat radiation. 
     
     
         6 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer is configured to be heat-conducting. 
     
     
         7 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the active layer contains an agent for stimulating production of sweat. 
     
     
         8 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the active layer is provided with a metallic coating. 
     
     
         9 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer is elastic. 
     
     
         10 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer is not expandable. 
     
     
         11 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent comprises polymer particles which have a core swelling in presence of water and a superficially postcured shell. 
     
     
         12 . The textile composite material of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer particles are a screening fraction of polymer particles which have not been crushed after superficial postcure of the shell. 
     
     
         13 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the nanofiber nonwoven is formed from polyurethane fibers or filaments. 
     
     
         14 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer is larger than the active layer and provided with an adhesive layer encircling its rim to connect the composite material with the skin. 
     
     
         15 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer to connect the composite material with the skin is provided on the active layer. 
     
     
         16 . The textile composite material of  claim 15 , wherein the adhesive layer is configured to remove an upper cell layer of corneocytes from the skin. 
     
     
         17 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material is selected from the group comprising at least one of a cloth, a compress, a dressing, a plaster, an article of clothing or a part of a clothing article. 
     
     
         18 . The textile composite material of  claim 1 , wherein the active layer further comprises a color indicator to indicate production of sweat. 
     
     
         19 . An absorbent textile composite material, comprising:
 a carrier layer; an active layer comprising a nanofiber nonwoven comprising a superabsorbent for absorbing and retaining noxious substances; and   at least one additional layer of a nanofiber nonwoven without the superabsorbent.   
     
     
         20 . The absorbent textile composite material of  claim 19 , further comprising a flexible carrier layer connected to the active layer. 
     
     
         21 . The absorbent textile composite material of  claim 20 , further comprising an adhesive layer positioned on the active layer, to connect the composite material to a contaminated skin area and to remove an upper cell layer of corneocytes from the contaminated skin area. 
     
     
         22 . A method of decontaminating human skin from noxious substances, comprising:
 applying a textile composite to a contaminated skin area for a predetermined period of time, wherein a washing procedure or a massage procedure is not utilized; and   removing the textile composite from the contaminated skin area.   
     
     
         23 . The method of decontaminating human skin from noxious substances of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 reapplying the textile composite to the contaminated skin area; and   adhering the textile composite to the contaminated skin area via an adhesive layer.   
     
     
         24 . The method of decontaminating human skin from noxious substances of  claim 22 , further comprising stimulating production of sweat in the contaminated skin area, wherein a carrier layer is impermeable to water vapor. 
     
     
         25 . The method of decontaminating human skin from noxious substances of  claim 22 , further comprising stimulating production of sweat in the contaminated skin area, wherein at least one of an active layer and a carrier layer are permeable to heat radiation. 
     
     
         26 . The method of decontaminating human skin from noxious substances of  claim 22 , further comprising stimulating production of sweat in the contaminated skin area, wherein at least one of an active layer and a carrier layer are heat conducting. 
     
     
         27 . The method of decontaminating human skin from noxious substances of  claim 22 , further comprising stimulating production of sweat in the contaminated skin area, wherein an active layer comprises a sweat promoting agent. 
     
     
         28 . A method of decontaminating human skin from noxious substances, comprising:
 applying a textile composite to a contaminated skin area for a predetermined period of time; and   removing the textile composite from the contaminated skin area;   wherein the textile composite comprises a nanofiber nonwoven and a superabsorbent integrated into the nanofiber nonwoven, the nanofiber nonwoven having a fiber diameter of less than 1 μm; and   wherein the contaminated skin area comprises contaminated hair follicles, and the noxious substances are removed from the hair follicles.