Mixtures for rendering substrates cationic for antimicrobial and other applications such as sustainable dyeing with use of salt or single step dyeing of blended fabrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for imparting antimicrobial properties to substrates are costly, require cumbersome pre-treatments, and suffer from charge neutralization and staining issues, particularly with high-density charge surfaces, and often use toxic compounds that are not environmentally friendly.
Innovation Solution
A mixture comprising a cationic agent and a carrier substance that can be fixed to the substrate surface through coating and curing, using cationic monomers like 2-trimethylammonium ethyl methacrylate chloride, and a pH-responsive agent that changes charge based on environmental pH, ensuring durable antimicrobial activity and reduced staining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If photopolymerization and covalent grafting are performed to impart antimicrobial properties, then the substrate gains biocidal properties, but the process becomes cumbersome requiring photo priming reagents and grafting agents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the antimicrobial agent with the polymer matrix into a single composition that can be applied in one step. The cationic polymer serves both as the structural component and as the source of antimicrobial activity, eliminating the need for separate photo priming and grafting steps while maintaining reliable antimicrobial protection.
2Reliability
If plasma or UV treatment is applied to introduce surface hydroxyl groups, then the substrate becomes prone to react with antimicrobials, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates reactive functional groups directly into the polymer structure during synthesis, before application to the substrate. This preliminary incorporation of reactive groups eliminates the need for subsequent plasma or UV treatment steps, simplifying the manufacturing process while ensuring reliable reactivity with the substrate surface.
3Extent of automation
If expensive initiators are used for graft polymerization, then polymerization can be initiated, but the overall process becomes cost intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs initiators that are already present in the system or that can be generated in situ, eliminating the need for expensive external initiator addition. The polymerization process is designed to utilize readily available chemical species, making the process cost-effective while maintaining efficient polymerization initiation.
4Reliability
If high-density charge surfaces are created for antimicrobial activity, then microbe killing efficiency increases, but charge neutralization and staining problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates localized regions of high charge density at the polymer-substrate interface where antimicrobial activity is needed, while the outer surface maintains lower charge density to minimize staining and neutralization. This spatial differentiation of charge distribution allows efficient microbe killing at the interface while reducing harmful effects on the bulk surface properties.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective, durable, and non-toxic antimicrobial treatment that maintains surface charge integrity, effectively killing microbes without leaching and reducing staining, while being environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
a positively charged or cationic surface aids in killing microbes, as the membrane of most microbes is negatively charged. This is based on the attraction of the negatively charged microbe membranes and the subsequent destruction of the microbe when it comes in close proximity to the surface.
Implementation Method 2
a pH responsive agent, wherein a charge of the pH responsive agent is dependent on the pH value of a medium to which it is exposed in that it is positively charged if the pH value is below a first threshold value, and negatively charged if the pH value exceeds a second threshold value
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a mixture comprising: a cationic agent, a carrier substance which can be fixed to a substrate surface by a step of coating followed by a step of curing, and to which the cationic agent can be bound in the step of curing.