Multi-functional protective fiber and methods for use

Abstract

A reactive and adsorptive (i.e., protective) fiber, a multi-element protective filter and methods for constructing and using same which possess at least chemically reactive and biocidal properties. Nanoparticles from different classes such as metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal hydrates and POMs are incorporated into elements which can be utilized in a wide variety of protective materials. The nanoparticles may be treated to reduce water solubility or combined with halogens, alkali metals or secondary metal oxides to specifically engineer the nanoparticle to address a particular chemical or biocidal threat. When arranged upstream of an activated carbon filter, the nanoparticles provide enhanced adsorption or additional reactive properties to the protective filter. When used with carbon specially treated with metal ions, the protective filter retains the ability to adsorb blood agents as well. Significant advances in nanoparticle technology are described wherein clusters made from about 1 nm to about 200 nm sized nanoparticles are reduced to tangible filter element precursors.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a division of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 371,918 filed on Feb. 21, 2003, which in turn claims the priority date benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60 / 360,050 filed on Feb. 25, 2002.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] The present invention relates generally to protective fibers, and in particular, to reactive and adsorptive fibers for providing multi-functional protection from chemical and biological agents and methods for providing and using such fibers. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Historically, activated carbon has been incorporated into textiles for clothing and into filters to provide adsorptive protection. While activated carbon is extremely effective for adsorbing toxic vapors, activated carbon imparts only partial protection against chemical agents, which are captured through physical entrapment within its pores. Since this entrapment is a physical process, act...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing nanoparticulate-retaining fibers which possess chemically reactive properties, biocidally reactive properties, chemically adsorptive properties, or combinations of such properties. Advantageously, the present invention successfully overcomes significant material handling challenges and results in an entity which can provide efficient and effective adsorption and neutralization of harmful chemical agents as well as biological agents in a form which can be used, for example, to manufacture a protective textile comprising the protective fibers alone, or the protective fibers may be incorporated into other textiles, media, materials or systems.

Problems solved by technology

While activated carbon is extremely effective for adsorbing toxic vapors, activated carbon imparts only partial protection against chemical agents, which are captured through physical entrapment within its pores.

Such storage presents a host of problems: these materials may be released over time; the carbon has capacity restrictions and thus cannot be used indefinitely; and storage results in disposal problems after usage.

Finally, activated carbon does not provide protection from biological agents (such as anthrax or small pox).

In addition to the life support problems associated with hermetic sealing, these barriers present similar disposal problems after being coated with harmful entities.

Due to the unique physical properties and size of nanoparticles, it has heretofore been impossible to separate and fix the nanoparticles into a tangible form that could be flexibly integrated into protective systems and combined with conventional adsorbents.

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