Patent ID: 6537932
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: A61L,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of preparing a sterilized nonwoven web, the method comprising:providing a nonwoven web; coating the nonwoven web with from about 0.005 to about 3 percent by weight, based on the weight of the web, of an antistatic agent selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal or ammonium salt of a mono- or di-C3-alkyl phosphate in which the C3-alkyl moiety is an alkyl group containing three carbon atoms at least one of said carbon atoms substituted with an hydroxy group, a mixture of two or more of such salts, an alkali metal or ammonium salt of a &bgr;-carbon substituted alkyl phosphate, a di(&bgr;-carbon substituted alkyl) phosphate, or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing, wherein the &bgr;-carbon substituted alkyl group contains from four to about seven of atoms; and sterilizing the coated nonwoven web by exposing the web to an oxidizing gas plasma; wherein the sterilized coated nonwoven web is free of a malodor after exposure of the coated nonwoven web to the oxidizing gas plasma.