Antibacterial regenerated cellulosic fibers and process of preparation thereof

Abstract

An antibacterial regenerated cellulosic fiber is disclosed. The antibacterial regenerated cellulosic fiber comprises a quaternary ammonium compound in a concentration range of 0.05-1% w/w on the regenerated cellulosic fiber.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An antibacterial regenerated cellulosic fiber comprising a quaternary ammonium compound in a concentration range of 0.05-1% w/w on the regenerated cellulosic fiber. 
     
     
         2 . The antibacterial regenerated cellulosic fiber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is in a concentration range of 0.1-1% w/w on cellulosic fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The antibacterial regenerated cellulosic fiber as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is selected from the group consisting of dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC), C8-C18 alkyl trimethyl ammonium chlorides (such as trimethyloctylammonium chloride, decyltrimethyl ammonium chloride and hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride), soyalkyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, dicocalkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, alkyl-benzyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides (such as benzyldimethylstearyl ammonium chloride, benzyl alkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride orcocalkyl(2,4-dichlorobenzyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride, Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride, OctylDecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride, Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride, Dioctyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride, silicon based quaternary ammonium salts such as 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl dimethyl octadecyl ammonium chloride, 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propylmethyldi(decyl)ammonium chloride, 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl octadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The antibacterial regenerated cellulosic fiber as claimed in  claim 1 , has an antibacterial activity of more than 99% after at least 20 wash cycles. 
     
     
         5 . The antibacterial regenerated cellulosic fiber as claimed in  claim 1  retains antibacterial activity during downstream processing. 
     
     
         6 . The antibacterial regenerated cellulosic fiber as claimed in  claim 1  is antibacterial viscose staple fiber, antibacterial modal fiber or antibacterial lyocell fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The antibacterial regenerated cellulosic fiber as claimed in  claim 1  is used for making woven, non-woven fabrics, fiber blends and fiber composites. 
     
     
         8 . A process for preparing antibacterial regenerated cellulosic fibers, comprising:
 spinning a cellulosic solution through spinneret into a regeneration bath to obtain regenerated cellulosic fibers;   washing the regenerated cellulosic fibers;   treating the regenerated cellulosic fibers with a solution of quaternary ammonium compound having a concentration range of 0.1-1.5% w/w of regenerated cellulosic fibers to obtain treated regenerated cellulosic fibers; and   drying the treated regenerated cellulosic fibers to obtain antibacterial regenerated cellulosic fibers.   
     
     
         9 . The process as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein treatment of the regenerated cellulosic fibers with the solution of quaternary ammonium compound is carried out by spraying, padding, dipping, pouring or soaking. 
     
     
         10 . The process as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is selected from the group consisting of dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC), C8-C18 alkyl trimethyl ammonium chlorides (such as trimethyloctylammonium chloride, decyltrimethyl ammonium chloride and hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride), soyalkyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, dicocalkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, alkyl-benzyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides (such as benzyldimethylstearyl ammonium chloride, benzyl alkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride orcocalkyl(2,4-dichlorobenzyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride, Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride, OctylDecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride, Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride, Dioctyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride, silicon based quaternary ammonium salts such as 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl dimethyl octadecyl ammonium chloride, 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propylmethyldi(decyl)ammonium chloride, 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl octadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and mixtures thereof.