Patent ID: 7357949
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: A01N,C08K

Abstract:
1. A polymer composition comprising a) an antimicrobial additive comprising 10 to 1000 parts by weight of at least one ion-exchange type antimicrobial agent comprising a ceramic carrier and ion-exchanged antimicrobial metal ions and 100 parts by weight of a water absorbing, water vapor absorbing and wettable hydrophilic polymer having a water absorption at equilibrium of at least 5% by weight, the extent of water absorption being sufficient to allow for ion transport within and through, the hydrophilic polymer so as to facilitate the ion-exchange and subsequent release of an antimicrobially effective amount of the antimicrobial metal ions, said antimicrobial additive in the form of microparticles of the hydrophilic polymer having dispersed therein multiple particles of the at least one ion-exchange type antimicrobial agent, said microparticles having an average diameter of from about 15μ to about 300μ; and b) a matrix polymer wherein the hydrophilic microparticles are dispersed as a discrete phase within the matrix polymer.