Antiviral articles

Abstract

Provided is a textile made of filament yarn comprising a polymer composition that is durable and reusable having permanent or near-permanent antiviral properties and that includes a polymer, a metal ion, preferably a zinc and/or copper ion, and an optional phosphorus compound, wherein fibers and/or fabric formed from the polymer composition demonstrate antiviral properties and wherein the polymer is hygroscopic. The present disclosure also describes methods of forming the polymer compositions and methods of preparing fibers from the polymer composition.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An antiviral article comprising:
 a textile having a basis weight of greater than or equal to 15 gsm, the textile comprising filament yarn comprising:
 one or more hygroscopic polymers each having an average fiber diameter from 1 to 20 microns; and 
 one or more metal ions incorporated within the one or more hygroscopic polymers for deactivating viruses exposed to the article, wherein the concentration of the one or more metal ions is greater than or equal to 200 wppm. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hygroscopic polymers comprise a polyamide, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyesters, polyacrylates, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the polyamide is the reaction product of at least one C 4  to C 16  aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, cyclo dicarboxylic acid, or aromatic dicarboxylic acid and at least one alkylene diamine having from 2 to 16 carbon atoms or an aromatic diamine. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hygroscopic polymers absorbs more than 0.3% of moisture based on the weight of the one or more hygroscopic polymers. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric as a basis weight from 15 to 320 gsm. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hygroscopic polymers each have an average fiber diameter from 10 to 20 microns. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the metal ions comprise zinc ions, copper ions, or silver ions. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the one or more metal ions is from 200 wppm to 1,000 wppm. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article exhibits at least a 1-log reduction of human coronavirus after a period of 60 minutes according to ISO 18184:2019. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article exhibits at least a 1-log reduction of H1N1 after a period of 60 minutes according to ISO 18184:2019. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article exhibits at least a 1-log reduction of Sars-CoV-2 virus after a period of 60 minutes according to ISO 18184:2019. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more metal compounds, and the one or more metal compounds comprise oxides, carbonates, stearates, pyrithiones, or adipates. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the concentration of the one or more metal ions exceeds the concentration of one or more metal compounds. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is reusable. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the filament yarn further comprises an phosphorus compound and wherein the phosphorus compound comprises benzene phosphinic acid, phosphorous acid, or manganese hypophosphite, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the metal ion is a zinc ion and wherein the molar ratio of the phosphorus to the zinc ranges from 0.01:1 to 3:1. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article has a metal ion retention rate of greater than or equal to 65%. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article comprises a mask, wipe, gown, towel, protective clothing, or protective net. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the virus is an adenovirus, a herpesvirus, a poxvirus, a rhinovirus, a coxsackievirus, an enterovirus, a morbillivirus, a coronavirus, an influenza A virus, an avian influenza virus, a swine-origin influenza virus, or an equine influence virus. 
     
     
         20 . An antiviral filament yarn comprising:
 one or more hygroscopic polymers each having an average fiber diameter from 1 to 20 microns; and   one or more metal ions incorporated within the one or more hygroscopic polymers for deactivating viruses exposed to the yarn, wherein the concentration of the one or more metal ions is greater than or equal to 200 wppm; and wherein the filament yarn is woven or knitted into a textile.