Antimicrobial Multicomponent Synthetic Fiber and Method of Making Same

Abstract

A method of producing synthetic threads and yarns which utilize a multicomponent structure having silver in an external sheath. The threads and yarns are then texturized via a false-twist process to increase the amount of silver available at the exterior surfaces of the threads and yarns. The resultant yarns and threads are also provided.

1 . A multi-component filament comprising:
 a core; and   a sheath, said sheath surrounding said core and including antimicrobial particles therein;   wherein said filament has been texturized by a false-twist process, said false-twist process increasing the amount of antimicrobial accessible at an exterior surface of said sheath.   
     
     
         2 . The filament of  claim 1  wherein said core comprises Nylon. 
     
     
         3 . The filament of  claim 1  wherein said sheath comprises Nylon. 
     
     
         4 . The filament of  claim 1  wherein said core comprises polyester. 
     
     
         5 . The filament of  claim 1  wherein said sheath comprises polyester. 
     
     
         6 . The filament of  claim 1  wherein said antimicrobial particles comprise silver metal. 
     
     
         7 . The filament of  claim 1  wherein said antimicrobial particles comprise silver glass. 
     
     
         8 . The filament of  claim 7  wherein said silver glass comprises glass particles coated with silver. 
     
     
         9 . The filament of  claim 7  wherein said silver glass comprises glass particles including silver nitrate. 
     
     
         10 . A filament bundle comprising a plurality of filaments of  claim 1   
     
     
         11 . A filament bundle comprising:
 a plurality of filaments, each of said filaments comprising:
 a core; and 
 a sheath, said sheath surrounding said core and including antimicrobial particles therein; 
   wherein said filament bundle has been texturized by a false-twist process to increase the amount of antimicrobial accessible by a fluid in exterior surface contact with said filament bundle.   
     
     
         12 . The filament bundle of  claim 11  wherein said core comprises nylon. 
     
     
         13 . The filament bundle of  claim 11  wherein said sheath comprises nylon. 
     
     
         14 . The filament bundle of  claim 11  wherein said core comprises polyester. 
     
     
         15 . The filament bundle of  claim 11  wherein said sheath comprises polyester. 
     
     
         16 . The filament bundle of  claim 11  wherein said antimicrobial particles comprise silver metal. 
     
     
         17 . The filament bundle of  claim 11  wherein said antimicrobial particles comprise silver glass. 
     
     
         18 . The filament bundle of  claim 17  wherein said silver glass comprises glass particles coated with silver. 
     
     
         19 . The filament bundle of  claim 17  wherein said silver glass comprises glass particles including silver nitrate. 
     
     
         20 . A method of metalizing a synthetic filament bundle, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of synthetic filaments, each of said filaments comprising:
 a core; and 
 a sheath, said sheath surrounding said core and including silver particles therein; 
   texturized said filament bundle by a false-twist process to increase the amount of silver accessible by a fluid in exterior surface contact with said filament bundle.