Patent ID: 8277827

Claim:
An antimicrobial article prepared by the process comprising steps (a) providing an aqueous mixture consisting essentially of (1) hydrogen peroxide and (2) one or more chloride, bromide, nitrate, or sulfate salts of magnesium, zinc, or zirconium, (b) adding a source of hydroxide ion to the aqueous mixture to produce an antimicrobial treatment formulation having a degree of neutralization of about 50 to 100%, (c) applying said antimicrobial treatment formulation to an article selected from the group consisting of woven, knitted, and non-woven textiles; polymers; films; fibers: tapes; paper; natural or synthetic textiles; and blends thereof, and then (d) drying the article, wherein the molar ratio of hydrogen peroxide to the salts in the aqueous mixture is equal to or greater than 1:1, whereby an acetate-free complex of magnesium, zinc, or zirconium derivatives comprising a mixture of a hydroxide and a peroxide is incorporated into said article, and wherein durable antimicrobial activity, which is effective for at least 10 laundering cycles, is imparted to said article.