Coated Antimicrobial Fabric

Abstract

A nonwoven fabric has active antimicrobial and anti-viral agents coated onto it. Alternatively, an active antimicrobial/antiviral agent may be mixed into the barrier coating or fiber polymers themselves that make up the nonwoven material. A primary example is the treatment of an existing fabric having known permeability appropriate for an intended use. Intended uses for this nonwoven fabric include, but are not limited to, as a wearable garment, hair coverings, “booties,” temporary curtains, instrument wraps, surgical drapes, and blankets, each of which has active antimicrobial protection, thereby allowing the possibility of multiple uses of the fabric product.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An antimicrobial fabric comprising:
 a nonwoven fabric substrate formed of spunbonded polymer fibers;   an antimicrobial material coated onto the nonwoven fabric substrate;   wherein the coated nonwoven fabric is permeable to vapor and substantially impermeable to liquids.   
     
     
         2 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fabric is coated on both sides by an antimicrobial material.   
     
     
         3 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the polymer fibers that form the nonwoven fabric substrate are polyolefin fibers.   
     
     
         4 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the uncoated nonwoven fabric substrate has a base weight of 20-120 g/m2.   
     
     
         5 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the uncoated nonwoven fabric substrate has a thickness of 0.0025-0.030 inches.   
     
     
         6 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the antimicrobial material is comprised of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of CaCO3, TiO2, and Ca(OH)2.   
     
     
         7 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the coated fabric is stretched after extrusion.   
     
     
         8 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the antimicrobial coating is coextruded onto the nonwoven fabric substrate with the coextruded coating comprising a plurality of layers and only one of the layers includes the antimicrobial material.   
     
     
         9 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the coated nonwoven fabric has a permeability rating of 5-70 Perms.   
     
     
         10 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 1 ,
 wherein antimicrobial material coating is an aqueous solution applied to the nonwoven substrate and then dried onto the substrate.   
     
     
         11 . An antimicrobial fabric comprising:
 a nonwoven fabric substrate formed of spunbonded polymer fibers;   an antimicrobial material coated onto the nonwoven fabric substrate;   wherein the coated nonwoven fabric is substantially impermeable to vapor and substantially impermeable to liquids.   
     
     
         12 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 11 ,
 wherein the antimicrobial material is comprised of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of CaCO3, TiO2, and Ca(OH)2.   
     
     
         13 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 11 ,
 wherein the antimicrobial coating is coextruded onto the nonwoven fabric substrate with the coextruded coating comprising a plurality of layers and only one of the layers includes the antimicrobial material.   
     
     
         14 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 11 ,
 wherein the coated nonwoven fabric has a permeability rating of 0 to less than 5 Perms.   
     
     
         15 . An antimicrobial fabric comprising:
 a fabric substrate;   an antimicrobial material coated onto the fabric substrate;   wherein the coated fabric is permeable to vapor and substantially impermeable to liquids.   
     
     
         16 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 15 ,
 wherein the fabric substrate is a woven or knitted material.   
     
     
         17 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 15 ,
 wherein the antimicrobial material is comprised of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of CaCO3, TiO2, and Ca(OH)2.   
     
     
         18 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 15 ,
 wherein the antimicrobial coating is coextruded onto the fabric substrate with the coextruded coating comprising a plurality of layers and only one of the layers includes the antimicrobial material.   
     
     
         19 . An antimicrobial fabric as described in  claim 15 ,
 wherein the fabric is coated on both sides by an antimicrobial material.