Process for the Treatment of Synthetic Textiles with Cationic Biocides

Abstract

A process for the treatment of a synthetic textile (T) with a cationic biocide (B) and at least one anionic polymer (P) which comprises the step of treating the synthetic textile with an aqueous composition containing the cationic biocide (B) in a concentration (c1) and containing the anionic polymer (P) in a concentration (c2), wherein the concentrations (c1) and (c2) are selected so that the ratio (R) of negative charges of the anionic polymer (P) to the positive charges of the cationic biocide (B) is between 10:1 and 1:1, leads to textiles with long term biocide activity.

1 . Process for the treatment of a synthetic textile (T) with at least one cationic biocide (B) selected from the group consisting of
 quaternary ammonium compounds of the formula (I):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independent of each other C 1-20  alkyl, C 1-20  alkyl substituted by one or more hydroxy or benzyloxy group and/or interrupted by one or more oxygen, C 7-15  aralkyl, or C 7-15  aralkyl substituted by one or more C 1-20  alkyl, hydroxy, C 1-20  alkyloxy and/or benzyloxy groups, 
         X −  is a halide (for example, chloride, bromide or iodide), hydroxide, phosphate, phosphonate, carbonate, sulfate, carboxylate anion, nitrate, methosulfate or acetate; 
         polyhexymethylenbiguanid compounds and 
         combination of both types of cationic biocides; 
         and at least one anionic polymer (P) selected from the group of carboxymethyl cellulose, alginic acid, poly(acrylic acid), copolymers of acrylic acid, 
         poly(methacrylic acid) and copolymers of methacrylic acid which comprises the step of treating the synthetic textile with an aqueous composition containing the cationic biocide(s) (B) in a concentration (c1) and containing the anionic polymer(s) (P) in a concentration (c2), wherein the concentrations (c1) and (c2) are selected so that the ratio (R) of negative charges of the anionic polymer (P) to the positive charges of the cationic biocide (B) is between 10:1 and 1:1, and the synthetic textile is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polylethylene, polypropylene/polylethylene copolymers, polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), nylon and styrenic co-polymers. 
       
     
     
         2 . Process for the treatment of a synthetic textile (T) with at least one cationic biocide (B) and at least one anionic polymer (P) according to  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic textile (T) comprises a synthetic polymer from the group consisting of polypropylene, polylethylene, polypropylene/polylethylene copolymers, and styrenic co-polymers. 
     
     
         3 . Process for the treatment of a synthetic textile (T) with a cationic biocide (B) and at least one anionic polymer (P) according to  claim 1 , wherein the anionic polymer(s) (P) is an anionic polyelectrolyte selected from the group of carboxymethyl cellulose, poly(acrylic acid), copolymers of acrylic acid, poly(methacrylic acid) and copolymers of methacrylic acid. 
     
     
         4 . Process for the treatment of a synthetic textile (T) with a cationic biocide (B) and at least one anionic polymer (P) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cationic biocide (B) is selected from the group consisting of
 quaternary ammonium compounds of the formula (I):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independent of each other C 1-20  alkyl, C 7-15  aralkyl, or C 7-15  aralkyl substituted by one or more C 1-20  alkyl, and 
         X −  is a halide (for example, chloride, bromide or iodide), hydroxide, phosphate, phosphonate, carbonate, sulfate, carboxylate anion, nitrate, methosulfate or acetate; 
         polyhexymethylenbiguanid compounds; 
         and 
         combination of both types of cationic biocides. 
       
     
     
         5 . Process for the treatment of a synthetic textile (T) with a cationic biocide (B) and at least one anionic polymer (P) according to  claim 1 , wherein an aqueous composition is used, comprising 0.05 to 5% by weight (based on the total weight the aqueous composition) of a cationic biocide (B) and comprising 0.05 to 10% by weight (based on the total weight the aqueous composition) of anionic polymer(s) (P). 
     
     
         6 . Process for the treatment of a synthetic textile (T) with a cationic biocide (B) and at least one anionic polymer (P) according to  claim 1 , wherein an aqueous composition, comprising 0.05 to 5% by weight (based on the total weight the aqueous composition) of a cationic biocide (B) and comprising 0.05 to 10% by weight (based on the total weight the aqueous composition) of anionic polymer(s) (P) is sprayed, dipped, padded, immersed or coated onto the synthetic textile (T). 
     
     
         7 . Process for the treatment of a synthetic textile (T) with a cationic biocide (B) and an anionic polymer (P) according to  claim 1 , wherein an aqueous composition, comprising 0.1 to 5% by weight of CTAC and/or PHMB and comprising 0.1 to 10% by weight (based on the total weight the aqueous composition) of at least one anionic polymer (P) selected from the group of copolymers of acrylic acid with acrylic acid ester, copolymers of methacrylic acid with acrylic acid ester and copolymers of acrylic acid with acrylamide is used. 
     
     
         8 . A treated synthetic textile (T) according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The synthetic textile (T) according to  claim 8 , further comprising a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
         10 . An article comprising a synthetic textile (T) of  claim 8 , which article is selected from the group consisting of a surgical drape, a cover, a drape, a sheet, a linen, a padding, a gauze dressing, a garment, gown, robe, face mask, head cover, shoe cover and glove. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the cationic biocide (B) is at least one compound from the group of cetyltrimethyl-ammonium salts and polyhexamethylenbiguanid compounds. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to claim  16 , wherein the anionic polymer (P) is carboxymethylcellulose. 
     
     
         13 . The synthetic textile according to  claim 8 , wherein the anionic polymer (P) is carboxylmethylcellulose and the cationic biocide (b) is cetyltrimethyl-ammonium salts or polyhexamethylenbiguanid compounds.