Devices according to the invention use a metal-based material having antimicrobial, biocidal, bactericidal, virucidal and/or fungicidal effect. Metals having antimicrobial properties can be toxic to microorganisms of interest (microbes), such as bacteria and/or fungi.

The present invention relates to a hygiene article comprising an effective odour control system, wherein essential oils, an organic zinc salt such a zinc ricinoleate, and preferably a chelating agent and/or a physical agent interact synergistically to reduce malodours of bodily fluids. The present invention is of particular importance to the field of hygiene products, in particular feminine hygiene absorbent articles (sanitary napkins, panty liners).

Cellulosic pulp structures integrating unreacted quantities of an inorganic peroxide and a destabilizing acid, as binary components of an odor control system, absorbent articles incorporating such structures, and various methods of forming the same, are disclosed herein. The components are adapted to react in the presence of an aqueous fluid to produce hydrogen peroxide, thereby providing an antimicrobial and odor mitigating effect.

A pad for a garment includes a body and capping. The body has a front, a rear and a periphery and includes one or more absorbent layers for absorbing liquid and a gas-permeable barrier overlying the one or more absorbent layers to block the liquid. The capping runs along and caps at least a portion of the periphery to block the liquid. The capping has a front portion overlying the front, a rear portion overlying the rear, and a mounting portion, projecting away from the body, for mounting the pad.

Cellulosic pulp structures integrating unreacted quantities of an inorganic peroxide and a destabilizing acid, as binary components of an odor control system, absorbent articles incorporating such structures, and various methods of forming the same, are disclosed herein. The components are adapted to react in the presence of an aqueous fluid to produce hydrogen peroxide, thereby providing an antimicrobial and odor mitigating effect.

In an embodiment, a material includes at least one outer section and a midsection attached to the outer section. The midsection includes a first antimicrobial membrane patch layer configured to contact a body, a second antimicrobial membrane patch layer disposed adjacent to the first antimicrobial patch layer, and an air gap disposed between the first patch and second antimicrobial patch layers. The first and second antimicrobial patch layers each are formed from respective balanced warp tows and fill tows in a plain-weave pattern, and each layer include copper filaments disposed in a plurality of the tows, each of the copper filaments including at least Cu+ or Cu+++ ions. Such a material may be suitable for notification and protection of a body from a soil deposited on the material.

The present invention is directed to a substrate, in particular textile material to which one or more antimicrobial and/or hydrophilic and/or stain release agents are adhered. The agent(s) is/are adhered to the substrate in such a manner that they are not released from the textile even if the textile is wetted or washed, so that the textile is reusable. Washability and/or usability of the textile are improved where one or more hydrophilic and/or stain release agents are adhered to the textile. The substrate can be used, e.g., in a reusable sanitary napkin or other hygiene product. The structure of the hygiene product is disclosed, together with a process of attaching the different layers of the hygiene product together by ultrasonic welding. The invention further relates to a method of finishing a substrate by applying and binding antimicrobial and/or hydrophilic and/or stain release agents to the substrate so that the agents are essentially irreversibly adhered to the finished substrate.

A biodegradable, disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper, having a non-woven inner layer of natural fibers and a non-woven outer layer of natural fibers and a treatment applied to at least one surface thereof. The treatment includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of waxes, urethanes, silicones, fluorocarbons, and non-fluorochemical repellants. The absorbent article has a core of natural fibers or fibrous material, and optionally polyacrylate superabsorbent particles, positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. The article may contain polylactic acid films between the layers.

A biodegradable, disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper, having a non-woven inner layer of natural fibers and a non-woven outer layer of natural fibers and a treatment applied to at least one surface thereof. The treatment includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of waxes, urethanes, silicones, fluorocarbons, and non-fluorochemical repellents. The absorbent article has a core of natural fibers or fibrous material, and optionally polyacrylate superabsorbent particles, positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. The article may contain polylactic acid films between the layers.

A process for preventing multiplication of a bacteria, virus, or fungus, via: embedding Cu+ and Cu+++ ions into a material; contacting the bacteria, virus, or fungus with the material; and diffusing the Cu+ and Cu+++ ions into a cell and thereby reducing a biological energy-producing ability of the cell, via creating an inhibitory protein molecular structure degrading a membrane anatomy of the cell, thus suffocating the cell, thus protecting a skin from infection and preventing multiplication of the bacteria, virus, or fungus. Also described is a process for sensing: a load, a strain, or a liquid, on a fabric, that includes forming the fabric comprising a multi-walled nanomaterial tube copper bio-sensor via: spacing apart from one another, rows of multi-walled nanofibers, the rows of multi-wall nanofibers comprising copper; and spacing a continuous filament apart from and disposed substantially perpendicular to the rows of multi-walled nanofibers.