Thermoplastic materials having beneficial properties and processes for providing the same

Abstract

Methods of providing sustained sterilization of thermoplastics; providing thermoplastics that have the capacity to dispense sodium fluoride, and, a method of providing sustained sterilization of thermoplastics and providing thermoplastics that have the capacity to dispense sodium fluoride, both from the same thermoplastic article.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A composition of matter provided by a method of providing a thermoplastic material, said method comprising:
 a. providing a hydrolyzate of a silane having the general formula:
   (RO) 3 Si(CH 2 ) n N + (R′) 2 (R″)Cl − 
 
   wherein R is an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, n has a value of 3 to 8, each R′ is selected from alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R″ is the radical —(CH 2 )mCH 3 Cl −  wherein m has a value of 12 to 20;   b. coating particulates of a thermoplastic with said hydrolyzate;   c. heating and drying said coated particulate thermoplastics to yield dry coated thermoplastic particulates;   d. providing said coated thermoplastic particulates as feedstock for providing a thermoplastic material by a process selected from the group consisting of:
 i. melt-spinning, and 
 ii. injection molding; 
   wherein said thermoplastic material reduces the growth of bacteria or micro-organisms.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of matter of  claim 1 , wherein said composition of matter is at least one of a fiber material and a bristle for a brush. 
     
     
         3 . An article manufactured from the composition of matter of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein said article is at least one of a toothbrush and a woven mesh. 
     
     
         5 . A method of providing thermoplastics having the capacity to dispense sodium fluoride, said method comprising:
 a. adding a desired amount of sodium fluoride to water to form a solution;   b. coating particulate thermoplastics with said solution;   c. thereafter heating and drying said coated particulate thermoplastics;   d. providing said coated particulate thermoplastics as feedstock for a process selected from:
 i. melt-spinning, and 
 ii. injection molding. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said feedstock for providing thermoplastic product is a coated particulate thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said feedstock for providing thermoplastic product further comprises an amount of uncoated particulate thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said coated particulate thermoplastic material is mixed with an additional thermoplastic material that is not the same as said coated particulate thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said coating is provided by spraying said solution onto said particulate thermoplastic while agitating said particulate thermoplastic; and/or
 wherein said coating is provided by adding said solution to said particulate thermoplastic while agitating said particulate thermoplastic.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said coating is provided by adding said solution to said particulate thermoplastic while agitating said particulate thermoplastic. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said thermoplastic particulate is nylon. 
     
     
         12 . A composition of matter provided by the process of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         13 . The composition of matter of  claim 12 , wherein said composition of matter is at least one of a fiber material and a bristle for a brush. 
     
     
         14 . An article manufactured from the composition of matter of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein said article is at least one of a toothbrush and a woven mesh. 
     
     
         16 . A method of providing a thermoplastic material, said method comprising:
 a. providing a hydrolyzate of a silane having the general formula:
   (RO) 3 Si(CH 2 ) n N + (R′) 2 (R″)Cl − 
 
   wherein R is an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, n has a value of 3 to 8, each R′ is selected from alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R″ is the radical —(CH 2 )mCH 3 Cl −  wherein m has a value of 12 to 20;   b. adding a desired amount of sodium fluoride solution to said hydrolyzate;   c. coating particulates of a thermoplastic with said hydrolyzate containing said sodium fluoride;   d. heating and drying said coated particulates to yield dry coated particulates of thermoplastic material;   e. providing said coated thermoplastic particles as feedstock for providing a thermoplastic material by a process selected from the group consisting of:
 i. melt-spinning, and 
 ii. injection molding; 
   wherein said thermoplastic material reduces the growth of bacteria or micro-organisms; and   wherein thermoplastic material has the capacity to dispense sodium fluoride.   
     
     
         17 . A composition of matter provided by the process of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         18 . The composition of matter of  claim 17 , wherein said composition of matter is at least one of a fiber material and a bristle for a brush. 
     
     
         19 . An article manufactured from the composition of matter of  claim 17 . 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein said article is at least one of a toothbrush and a woven mesh.