Antitoxic fibers and fibrous media and methods for manufacturing same

Abstract

Antitoxic fibers and fabrics contain impregnated material including an antitoxin. A method for producing antitoxic fabric and products includes impregnating a fabric formed from nonpolymeric or polymeric fibers by fully immersing the fabric in a solution of a concentrate of triiodide and an additive portion that includes an oil of ethoxylated fatty acids in sufficient proportion to stabilize the triiodide in the fabric. An antitoxic fabric includes polymeric or nonpolymeric fibers and impregnated material, which includes an antitoxin, the antitoxin being triiodide, and additional chemical components including an oil of ethoxylated fatty acids in sufficient proportion to stabilize the triiodide in the antitoxic fabric. The antitoxic fabric is efficacious on contact, and maintains efficacy with negligible toxicity in use. Products with antitoxic fabric include wound dressings, gowns, surgical drapes, protective clothing, shoe covers, gloves, hair covers, air filters, including facemasks, privacy, hygienic products, curtains, medical tape, and wipes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An antitoxic fabric comprising polymeric or nonpolymeric fibers and impregnated material impregnated thereto, the impregnated material including an antitoxin and additional chemical components, wherein the antitoxin is triiodide, and wherein the additional chemical components include an oil in the form of ethoxylated fatty acids in sufficient proportion to stabilize the triiodide in the antitoxic fabric, the antitoxic fabric being efficacious on contact, and maintaining efficacy with negligible toxicity in use. 
     
     
         2 . The antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the antitoxin is in an amount of about 1.4% and the impregnated material impregnated to the antitoxic fabric is in a total amount of about 1.6% by weight of the antitoxic fabric based on dried fiber weight. 
     
     
         3 . The antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the impregnated material impregnated to the antitoxic fabric is at least 1.0% by weight of the antitoxic fabric based on dried fiber weight. 
     
     
         4 . The antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the additional chemical components further include at least one of a preservative, an emulsifier, an anti-oxidant, a pigment, an adhesive, a lubricant, and an antifoam agent. 
     
     
         5 . The antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the impregnated material impregnated to the antitoxic fabric is in an amount of about 1.3% to about 2.5% by weight of the antitoxic fabric based on dried fiber weight. 
     
     
         6 . The antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the antitoxin is in an amount greater than a total amount of the additional chemical components by weight of the antitoxic fabric based on dried fiber weight. 
     
     
         7 . The antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric or nonpolymeric fibers are formed from at least one of a polypropylene and synthetic cellulose acetate and a blend thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric or nonpolymeric fibers are formed from at least one of a polypropylene, a polyester, a polyamide, and a cellulose media. 
     
     
         9 . The antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric or nonpolymeric fibers are formed from at least one of cotton, rayon, polyamide, nylon, PVC, and EMAC, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the ethoxylated fatty acids are ethoxylated coconut fatty acids. 
     
     
         11 . The antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the ethoxylated fatty acids are in an amount of 90% or more of the additional chemical components. 
     
     
         12 . The antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the impregnated material further includes at least one of a surfactant and an organic solvent. 
     
     
         13 . A facemask comprising the antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A wound dressing comprising the antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A surgical tape comprising the antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . An article of protective clothing, including one of a gown, a shoe covering, gloves, and a hair covering, comprising the antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . An article for medical use, including one of a wipe, a surgical drape and a privacy curtain, comprising the antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . An air filter comprising the antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A hygienic product comprising the antitoxic fabric of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A process for producing an antitoxic fabric comprising:
 providing a fabric formed from nonpolymeric or polymeric fibers;   forming a solution comprising a concentrate of triiodide, and an additive portion, the additive portion including an oil in the form of ethoxylated fatty acids, the additional chemical components being in sufficient proportion to stabilize the triiodide in the fabric;   fully immersing said fabric in said solution to form a wet media including the concentrate; and   drying the wet media and isolating the antitoxic fabric therefrom, wherein the triiodide is impregnated into and stabilized in the antitoxic fabric in the drying step, the antitoxic fabric being efficacious on contact and maintaining efficacy with low toxicity in use.   
     
     
         21 . An antitoxic fabric comprising polymeric or nonpolymeric fibers and impregnated material impregnated thereto, the impregnated material including an antitoxin and additional chemical components, wherein the antitoxin is one of bromine, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, and chlorhexidine gluconate, and wherein the additional chemical components include an oil in the form of ethoxylated fatty acids, the additional chemical components being in sufficient proportion to stabilize the antitoxin in the antitoxic fabric, the antitoxic fabric being efficacious on contact, and maintaining efficacy with negligible toxicity in use.