Patent ID: 9549547
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: A01N,A61L,C08K,C09D

Claim:
1. A method of enhancing and regenerating durable antimicrobial activity of the surface of an article, wherein said method comprises the steps in sequence of: a. providing, on the surface of an article on which durable antimicrobial activity is desired, a polymer doped with a metal derivative, b. exposing the polymer doped with a metal derivative to a source of aqueous hydrogen peroxide for a time sufficient to permit an antimicrobially-enhancing amount of hydrogen peroxide to be sequestered thereon, and thereafter, c. removing the source of aqueous hydrogen peroxide, wherein said metal derivative comprises 1% to 50% (w/w) of the weight of the doped polymer, wherein said metal derivative is a hydroxide, an oxide, or a peroxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium, titanium, and zirconium, wherein the water absorbency of said polymer is between 0.5% and 20% (w/w), wherein said polymer doped with said metal derivative has been determined to be capable of sequestering hydrogen peroxide when exposed to said source of aqueous hydrogen peroxide; whereby said antimicrobial activity, when tested using ASTM Standard Method E2180 at least 24 hours after said removal of the source of hydrogen peroxide, provides at least a 3-log reduction of viable