WO2002027086A1

WO2002027086A1 - Terry loop fabric with antibacterial and/or antifungal activity and method for making same

Info

Publication number: WO2002027086A1
Application number: PCT/FR2001/002593
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hugues-Arnaud Mayer
Original assignee: Abeil Sa
Priority date: 2000-09-29
Filing date: 2001-08-09
Publication date: 2002-04-04
Also published as: FR2814763B1; EP1328672A1; FR2814763A1; AU2001284131A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a woven terry loop fabric wherein is provided in a yarn a mixture of fibres with perennial (hence non-diffusing) antibacterial (or other ) activity with hydrophilic fibres. The selected percentage and the type of fibres with antibacterial (or other) activity constitute points which enable proper balance between the antibacterial or fungicidal function (or other activity) and the wiping function. Thus, for example, the kinetics of bacterial contamination on terry cloths, such as towels or bathrobes, absorbent slip covers, and the like can be efficiently controlled.

Description

Terry fabric with antibacterial and / or antifungal action and manufacturing process.

Technical sector of the invention:

The present invention relates to the technical sector of textiles, in particular terry woven fabrics, having a special action or function, in particular a non-diffusing antibacterial and antifungal action (or function). A person skilled in the art knows that this type of fabric covers bath towels, "terry" fabrics and similar products and fabrics. They are therefore products or fabrics generally used in humid environments or conducive to significant bacterial and fungal development.

Technical problem:

In existing techniques, the looped woven fabrics become active by treatment either by: impregnation (we scarf, that is to say, we soak a fabric in a finish) inclusion (the element is included in the polymer before spinning and weaving )

Whatever the technique, the activity of the fabric is the same on all its faces and / or in its thickness.

This therefore appears to be a problem for: people in regular contact with these products: patients, nursing staff, operator in the environment to be treated. people exposed to a potential risk of overdose (or creation of bacterial resistance linked to repeated exposure). There also appears to be a need not to destroy the non-pathogenic flora and therefore not to treat the areas not affected by the infection.

The problem is of course compounded by the fact that these products or fabrics are generally used in humid environments or conducive to significant bacterial and fungal growth.

Furthermore, it is necessary to point out a well-known efficiency problem linked to the composition of the threads used in the composition of the textile.

Most fibers with perennial antibacterial activity, therefore not diffusing, are very weakly hydrophilic.

The mixture of these fibers with hydrophilic fibers in a yarn which could adversely affect the wiping qualities expected for this type of textile has dissuaded the person skilled in the art from using this route, given the usual use intended for this type of fabric. tissue.

Prior art:

We know normal terry fabrics or terry or velvet or honeycomb with treatment by padding the fabric with agents of the type diffusing quaternary ammonium derivatives or other agent having the same antibacterial, antifungal or biocidal characteristics.

To date, no antibacterial treatment is known on fabrics containing non-diffusing agents.

There is therefore an important and recognized need for terry woven fabrics and for textile products or corresponding fabrics and articles made of these materials, which would not have the above serious drawbacks, such as bath towels, bath sheets, for the shower, generally intended to absorb moisture and dry the human body, in particular in environments where extremely strict hygiene is essential, such as hospitals, clinics, bathing establishments or spas and the like, and naturally for hotels, maritime and possibly rail passenger transport companies (sleeping cars), campsites, caravan or motorhome rental companies, and individuals.

Summary of the invention:

In its most general aspect, the present invention consists in introducing antibacterial and antifungal activity into terry-woven fabrics generally used in humid environments or conducive to important bacterial and fungal developments in order to allow them to effectively inhibit any growth. harmful to the user or to the general condition of the textile, without presenting a risk of overdose or other similar risk and disadvantage for the user or, for example, a nursing staff or any person having to handle large quantities of such fabrics active?

The invention therefore generally relates to a method for manufacturing looped loop fabrics having antibacterial and / or antifungal activity, and or other activity, characterized in that it consists in introducing antibacterial and / or antifungal activity and / or other activity in at least one thread or fiber of the tissue considered.

The invention also relates to the fabrics thus obtained, which are also, by their new properties, new industrial products, and the applications of the process and the fabrics obtained in the fields which will be described here, thus due to the corresponding textile articles.

According to the invention, the construction of the terry cloth is carried out from threads or threads made up

antibacterial fibers (or other activity as described below) having long-lasting, non-diffusing antibacterial (or other) inclusions, according to a predetermined percentage

mixed with cotton fibers or hydrophilic fibers. According to a preferred embodiment, said percentage will be homogeneous or substantially homogeneous in said antibacterial fibers.

Depending on the use you want to make of it, you favor the implantation of the antibacterial thread (or other activity) either on the loops, or on the bottom, or on one of the loops.

For this, in the preferred embodiment, the technique known as terry or velvet weaving is used, that is to say the technique of terry terry or velvet.

These weaving techniques are, in themselves, well known to those skilled in the art. Reference may be made, for example, to the article “Antimicrobial textiles” “For Science” No. 266, December 1999.

The invention therefore relates to textiles having a specific function or action, in particular antibacterial and / or antifungal, and or other activity, characterized in that said function can be either on one side of the textile, or on both sides but with a difference in degree of activity intensity either simply in the background weaving or on one of the loops.

It is understood here that one of the faces has said function and the other side does not, or that one of the faces has said function to a certain degree, for example normal or strong, and the other face to another degree , for example very weak or zero. There can also be simply the background weaving having this activity; both sides having zero activity.

As those skilled in the art know, there are several types of fabrics. intended for the above uses; it was therefore not obvious either to choose the type of fabric, or the type of weaving allowing the construction of this fabric, that is to say the selection of the bottom threads or “active” loops, nor of assess the chances of success. It was also not obvious to succeed in selecting, for the solution of the problem mentioned above, an antibacterial fiber retaining its effectiveness throughout the duration of use of the textile.

Detailed description of the invention:

The invention relates to a terry woven fabric in which a mixture of fibers with lasting antibacterial activity (or other activity) (therefore not diffusing) and hydrophilic fibers is operated in a thread.

The percentage and the type of antibacterial fibers chosen constitute fundamental points of the invention, because this allows the right balance between the antibacterial or fungicidal function (or other activity) and the wiping function.

Neither the way to achieve this balance, nor the chances of achieving it on an industrial level, were obvious.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, and with reference to the appended drawing in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows the formation of the loop of a terry cloth and its structure. In this figure, the symbol of the background, weft and loop wires has been represented in legend.

FIG. 2 represents a graph which represents the bacterial development of bath towels according to the invention based on yarn at 45% by weight of antibacterial product BACTISTOP ™ which is a known agent of zeolite type marketed by the company ABEIL SA and 55 % by weight of cotton as hydrophilic fibers.

The following references designate:

1 the comb

2 the bottom threads 3 the weft threads

4 loop wires NT normal side untreated

At T active side, treated according to the invention

The construction of the terry cloth must correspond to the rules of the art. We can simply play on the construction of the threads constituting the fabric.

According to a preferred embodiment, the active fiber is integrated inside the wire in an intimate mixture to constitute this wire.

This technique allows, by the dosage that can be achieved, to obtain a greater or lesser efficiency, at will.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the type of bottom wire and that forming the loops will be identical; consequently, the antibacterial or antifungal efficacy will be homogeneous.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the type of ground wire will only be identical to a single type of loop wire; antibacterial efficacy will therefore be single-sided.

The originality of this technology lies in the choice of construction of the wire, in the percentage of active material present in the wire, as well as in the construction of the fabric (which can be single or double-sided).

The efficiency of drying capacities depends on the availability of wiping fibers. Depending on the criteria of use, whether a towel, a bathrobe or a bath mat, we will determine the amount of wiping fibers required, by varying the weight per m2 and the construction of the fabric. In particular, the desired result can be optimized by varying the number of wires and / or the length of the loops, the metric number Nm of the wire and therefore the density of available wires.

We know that the Nm corresponds for example to the following equivalence: Nm 20 = 20,000 linear meters ml of wire / kg of wire.

As those skilled in the art know, the wiping fibers are absorbent fibers allowing wiping. Those skilled in the art will understand that, to optimize the result as a function of the final application, the following basic rules may be applied:

absorption is achieved in two ways: intrinsic capillarity of the fiber, and water storage capacity between the fibers capillary effect due to the mass of fibers

It is therefore possible to position a fabric with an active face in contact with the ground, for example a bath mat placed on the ground, making it possible to inhibit bacterial development, and to position the face without treatment in contact with the feet, to do not touch the flora.

Applications of the invention:

* Homogeneous antibacterial or antifungal activity (assigned to the background thread and to the threads forming the loops):

Towels, bath sheets, washcloths, dishcloths.

For example, for a towel, we will rather promote the wiping efficiency by incorporating mainly hydrophilic fibers compared to antibacterial fibers.

* Double-sided antibacterial or antifungal activity (only used for the bottom wire and a single loop):

Bathrobes, bath mats, clothing, sponge, bibs (of all types and for all ages), covers of all types, in particular covers for children's mattresses.

For example, for a double-sided or single-sided bath mat, we will rather favor antibacterial efficiency by incorporating mainly antibacterial fibers compared to the qualities of body wiping. The applications of the invention are to be determined and adapted as a function of the antibacterial efficacy chosen, that is to say as a function of the chosen end use.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, and nonlimiting examples below.

EXAMPLES:

We can use:

EX 1 from 25 to 50% by weight approximately of antibacterial fibers mixed with hydrophilic fibers forming the terry tissue, which produces a weak bacteriostatic to bacteriostatic action;

EX 2 more than about 50% by weight of antibacterial fibers, rather to develop bactericidal activity.

EX 3 We made bath towels of the type used by spa guests in a thermal establishment, based on:

BACTISTOP ™ yarn 45% by weight cotton 55% by weight.

The antibacterial activity of a terry cloth was described under normal conditions of use as described above.

The BACTISTOP ™ contains zeolites loaded with copper and silver.

The towels used were recovered and samples taken with “con-tact” ™ agar intended for the numbering of the total flora. The samples were taken every two hours for 8 hours, with a final sample 24 hours after the end of treatment. The towels were hung at room temperature for the duration of the analysis. The means of the CFU (colony forming units) collected on the active tissues and the non-active control tissues were calculated and reported in the table. It is considered that the contamination is identical on the active side and on the non-active side of a towel. The bacteria come from the skin and mucous membranes of the subjects and from the treatment water, to a lesser extent.

The results are shown graphically in the attached FIG. 2, which represents the kinetics of bacterial contamination on towels tested on subjects.

At time "0" (in fact, immediately after the last treatment) and up to 6 hours, we can consider that the number of bacteria that have been deposited remains constant on the two types of tissue, the bacteria developing little or not in such a short time with few nutrients and a non-optimal growth temperature. On the other hand, it is very clearly seen that at 8 hours the number of bacteria practically doubled on the control part compared to the active part where this number remained stable, this result being fully confirmed after 24 hours.

It is noted that the active side treated according to the invention makes it possible to effectively control the bacterial development.

As seen above, the% of antibacterial agent can be varied in order to modulate either bacteriostatic or bactericidal activity.

Those skilled in the art will be able to appreciate the percentage of antibacterial fibers to be incorporated, limiting themselves to the quantities which make it possible to obtain a good balance between antibacterial efficacy and the usual requirements for using terry cloth.

The invention also covers all the embodiments and all the applications which will be directly accessible to those skilled in the art on reading the present application, their own knowledge, and possibly simple routine tests.

Claims

1 Method for manufacturing looped loop fabrics having antibacterial and / or antifungal activity, and / or other activity, characterized in that it consists in introducing antibacterial and antifungal activity into at least one thread or fiber of the tissue considered.

2 Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the construction of the looped looped fabric, in particular of the sponge type, is carried out from son or son made up

- of antibacterial and / or antifungal fibers having perennial and non-diffusing antibacterial and / or antifungal inclusions, according to a predetermined percentage

mixed with cotton fibers or hydrophilic fibers.

3 Method according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said percentage will be homogeneous or substantially homogeneous in said antibacterial fibers.

4 Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that one favors the implantation of the antibacterial or antifungal wire either on the loops, or on the bottom, or on one of the loops.

5 Method according to claim 4 characterized in that one uses the technique known as terry or velvet weaving, that is to say the technique of terry terry or velvet.

6 Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the active fiber is integrated inside the wire in intimate mixture to constitute this wire.

7 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the type of background wire and that forming the loops are identical, the antibacterial or antifungal or other efficacy being homogeneous. 8 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the type of bottom wire is only identical to a single type of loop wire, the antibacterial effectiveness therefore being double-sided.

9 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that one determines the amount of wiping fibers required by varying the weight per m2 and the construction of the fabric and optimizing the desired result by varying the number el / or the length of the loops, the metric number Nm of the wire and therefore the density of available wires.

10 Method according to claim 9 characterized in that, to optimize the result according to the final application, the following basic rules may be applied:

absorption is achieved in two ways:

intrinsic capillarity of the fiber, and water storage capacity between the fibers

capillary effect due to the mass of fibers;

and a tissue is positioned with an active face in contact with the ground, making it possible to inhibit bacterial development, and the face without treatment in contact with the feet.

11 Textiles of the loop pile fabric type, having a specific function or action, in particular antibacterial and / or antifungal, characterized in that at least one thread or fiber of the tissue or textile considered comprises antibacterial and antifungal activity or other activity.

12 Textiles according to claim 11 characterized in that the construction of the loop pile fabric, in particular of the sponge type, is carried out from threads or threads made up

antibacterial and / or antifungal fibers having perennial and non-diffusing antibacterial and / or antifungal inclusions, according to a predetermined percentage mixed with cotton fibers or hydrophilic fibers.

13 Textiles according to claim 11 or 12 characterized in that said percentage is homogeneous or substantially homogeneous in said antibacterial fibers.

14 Textiles according to any one of claims 11 to 13 characterized in that the implantation of the antibacterial or antifungal thread has been favored either on the loops, or on the bottom, or on one of the loops.

15 Textiles according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that they were manufactured by the technique known as terry or velvet weaving, that is to say the technique of terry terry or velvet.

16 Textiles according to any one of claims 11 to 15 characterized in that the active fiber is integrated inside the yarn in intimate mixture to constitute this yarn.

17 Textiles according to any one of claims 11 to 16 characterized in that the type of background thread and that forming the loops are identical, the antibacterial or antifungal efficacy being homogeneous.

18 Textiles according to any one of claims 11 to 17 characterized in that the type of background thread is only identical to a single type of loop thread, the antibacterial effectiveness therefore being single-sided.

19 Textiles according to any one of Claims 11 to 18, characterized in that the quantity of wiping fibers required is determined by varying the weight per m2 and the construction of the fabric and the desired result is optimized by varying the number of wires and / or the length of the loops, the metric number Nm of the wire and therefore the density of available wires.

20 Textiles according to any one of claims 11 to 19 characterized in that said function can be either on one of the faces of the textile, or on both sides but with a difference in degree of intensity of activity or simply in the background weaving is on one of the loops. 21 Textiles according to claim 20 characterized in that one of the faces has said function and the other side does not, or that one of the faces has said function to a certain degree, for example normal or strong, and the another face to another degree, for example very weak or zero, or else that the basic weaving has this activity, the two sides having zero activity.

22 Textiles according to any one of Claims 11 to 21, characterized in that it is a terry woven fabric in which a mixture of fibers with perennial antibacterial and / or antifungal activity is operated in a thread, therefore not diffusing not, with hydrophilic fibers.

23 Textiles according to any one of claims 11 to 22 characterized in that the right balance is achieved between the antibacterial or fungicidal function and the wiping function by the percentage and the type of antibacterial fibers chosen.

24 Textiles according to any one of claims 11 to 23, characterized in that they are products chosen from the following:

articles of the bath towel type containing 45% by weight of antibacterial product BACTISTOP ™ which is a known agent of the zeolite type marketed by the company ABEIL SA and 55% by weight of cotton as hydrophilic fibers;

articles consisting of approximately 25 to 50% by weight of antibacterial fibers mixed with hydrophilic fibers forming the terry cloth, which produces a weak bacteriostatic to bacteriostatic action;

- articles made up of more than approximately 50% by weight of antibacterial fibers, to rather develop bactericidal activity;

bath towel type items based on:

BACTISTOP ™ yarn 45% by weight

cotton 55% by weight. 25 Textiles and fabrics or articles characterized in that they have been manufactured according to the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

26 Applications of the method according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 and of the textiles or fabrics according to any one of Claims 11 to

25 in the following areas:

- terry woven fabrics and textile products or corresponding fabrics and articles made of these materials, in particular bath towels, bath sheets, towels, bath sheets, wash cloths, wash cloths for baths, bathrobes, bath mats, clothing, sponge , covers of all types, in particular covers for children's mattresses, generally intended for absorbing moisture and drying the human body, in particular in hospitals, clinics, bathing establishments or spas and the like, and hotel establishments, maritime and possibly rail passenger transport companies (sleeping cars), campsites, caravan or motorhome rental companies, and individuals,

presenting in particular the following types of activity:

* Homogeneous antibacterial or antifungal activity, assigned to the background thread and to the threads forming the loops:

- towels in which the wiping efficiency has been favored by incorporating mainly hydrophilic fibers compared to the antibacterial fibers.

^* Double-sided antibacterial or antifungal activity, only used for the bottom wire and a single loop:

- double-sided or single-sided bath mat, where we will promote antibacterial activity by incorporating mainly antibacterial fibers compared to the qualities of body wiping.