Antimicrobial fiber blends

Abstract

Antimicrobial fiber blends including a chitosan-based fiber are disclosed. The fiber blends also include other fibers such as organic fibers, synthetic fibers, or a combination thereof. Yarns and textiles formed from the fiber blends and articles formed from the textiles are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A yarn having an antimicrobial property and comprising a mixture of:
 a chitosan-based fiber in an amount of at least 1% and less than 10% by weight;   a lyocell fiber in an amount from 50% to 70% by weight; and   a wool fiber in an amount of from 25% to 45% by weight, wherein the amount of the lyocell fiber and the amount of the wool fiber together make up at least 90% by weight of the yarn.   
     
     
         2 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the chitosan-based fiber is from 1% to 5% by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the chitosan-based fiber and the lyocell fiber has a linear density from 1 dTex to 3 dTex; and   the wool fiber has average diameter less than 24 microns.   
     
     
         4 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the chitosan-based fiber and the lyocell fiber are dyed with a first dye and the wool fiber is dyed with a second dye different than the first dye. 
     
     
         5 . The yarn of  claim 1 , further comprising a synthetic elastomer fiber in an amount from 1% to less than 10%. 
     
     
         6 . A textile having an antimicrobial property and comprising:
 a chitosan-based fiber in an amount of at least 1% and less than 10% by weight;   a lyocell fiber in an amount from 50% to 70% by weight; and   a wool fiber in an amount of from 25% to 45% by weight, wherein the amount of the lyocell fiber and the amount of the wool fiber together make up at least 90% by weight of the textile.   
     
     
         7 . The textile of  claim 6 , having a bacterial reduction of at least 99% as measured with AATCC 100 or JIS L 1902. 
     
     
         8 . The textile of  claim 7 , wherein the amount of the chitosan-based fiber is from 2% to 5% by weight. 
     
     
         9 . The textile of  claim 6 , wherein the textile has a knitted structure. 
     
     
         10 . The textile of  claim 6 , wherein the textile has a woven structure. 
     
     
         11 . The textile of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the chitosan-based fiber is dyed; and   the wool fiber is substantially free from dye.   
     
     
         12 . An article comprising the textile of  claim 6  and selected from a clothing article, a footwear article, or an accessory article. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the amount of the chitosan-based fiber in the textile is from 2.5% to 7.5% by weight. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein the textile has a bacterial reduction of at least 99.5% as measured with AATCC 100 or JIS L 1902. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the textile has a knitted structure. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the article is a clothing article;   the clothing article defines a first region and a second region;   the first region has a first percentage of the chitosan-based fiber; and   the second region has a second percentage, different from the first percentage, of the chitosan-based fiber.   
     
     
         17 . A fiber blend comprising a mixture of:
 a chitosan-based fiber in an amount of at least 1% and less than 10% by weight;   a lyocell fiber in an amount from 50% to 70% by weight; and   a wool fiber in an amount of from 25% to 45% by weight, wherein the amount of the lyocell fiber and the amount of the wool fiber together make up at least 90% by weight of the fiber blend.   
     
     
         18 . The fiber blend of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the amount of the chitosan-based fiber is from 2% to 5% by weight; and   the amount of the lyocell fiber and the amount of the wool fiber together make up at least 95% by weight of the fiber blend.   
     
     
         19 . The fiber blend of  claim 17 , wherein the chitosan-based fiber comprises at least 80% chitosan. 
     
     
         20 . The fiber blend of  claim 17 , wherein the fiber blend is substantially free from metal particles and synthetic antimicrobial agents.