High quality antimicrobial paint composition

Abstract

A high quality paint formulation comprises water, latex polymer, pigment, and a quaternary ammonium compound. The high quality paint is capable of killing gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria at a rate of greater than 3 logs within 2 hours of application of bacteria to a painted surface. The high quality paint is also capable of inactivating viruses.

Claims

1. A latex paint composition comprising: (a) a binder copolymer comprising an acrylic component and a second polymeric component comprising one or more of a vinyl component and styrene component and having a compatibility score of 0.5 or less; (b) from about 0.25% by weight to about 3.0% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound; (c) a hiding pigment; and (d) water, wherein the paint composition has a pigment volume concentration (PVC) of about 5 to about 60; wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is present in a suitable amount to provide one or more of (1) gram negative bacterial reduction by greater than 3 logs within 2 hours of application of the gram negative bacteria to a dried surface of the paint composition; (2) gram positive bacterial reduction by greater than 3 logs within 2 hours of application of the gram positive bacteria to a dried surface of the paint composition; or (3) viral reduction by greater than 3 logs within 2 hours of application of the virus to a dried surface of the paint composition, wherein the paint composition has a dried paint film gloss of 5 to 85 gloss units measured at 60.

2. The latex paint composition of claim 1, wherein the hiding pigment comprises one or more of calcium carbonate, talc, clay, silicates, aluminum silicates, calcium metasilicates, aluminum potassium silicates, magnesium silicates, barium sulfates, nepheline syenite, feldspar, zinc oxides, sulfides, titanium dioxide, or mixtures thereof.

3. The latex paint composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional pigment other than titanium dioxide in an amount up to about 30% by weight.

4. The latex paint composition of claim 1, wherein the paint composition is substantially free of an intumescent ingredient.

5. The latex paint composition of claim 1, wherein the paint composition has about 30% to about 60% by weight solids.

6. The latex paint composition of claim 1 further comprising a biocide, said biocide comprising at least one of a metal ion containing compounds, a polymeric biocides, a heterocyclic compounds, a phenols, an organometallics, an aldehydes, a proteins, a peroxygen, an alcohols, an enzymes, a polypeptides, or a halogen releasing compounds.

7. The latex paint composition of claim 1, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is substantially free of silicon.

8. The latex paint composition of claim 1, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound has the structural formula: ##STR00004## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are linear or branched chain alkyl groups or mixtures of groups having 1-7 carbons, R.sub.3 is a linear or branched chain alkyl group or a mixture of groups containing 6-20 carbons, and R.sub.4 is a linear or branched chain alkyl group or a mixture of groups having 6-20 carbons, benzyl or alkyl benzyl groups, or ##STR00005## where R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be the same or different from each other, and X represents a halide, carbonate, methosulfate, or saccharinate.

9. The latex paint composition of claim 1, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound has the structural formula: ##STR00006## where R.sub.1 is C.sub.8-C.sub.18-alkenyl or -alkenyl, where R.sup.2 is C.sub.8-C.sub.18-alkyl or -alkenyl, aryl or C.sub.7-C.sub.18-aralkyl, in which the aromatic rings can additionally be substituted, where R.sub.3 is C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, where R.sub.4 is H or methyl, and where A is an anion of an organic or inorganic acid.

10. The latex paint composition of claim 1, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound comprises one or more of n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides, the n-alkyl being a C.sub.8-C.sub.18 alkyl, benzalkonium chloride, the alkyl side chain being C.sub.8, C.sub.10, C.sub.12, C.sub.14, C.sub.16 or C.sub.18 or mixtures thereof, n-alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chlorides, the n-alkyl being a C.sub.8-C.sub.18 alkyl, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides, the alkyl side chain being C.sub.6-C.sub.12, n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, and dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, or mixtures thereof.

11. The latex paint composition of claim 1, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is in a microcapsule.

12. The latex paint composition of claim 1, wherein the binder polymer is present at about 7% to about 30% by weight.

13. The latex paint composition of claim 1, wherein the pigment has a minimum fineness of grind by Hegman gauge of at least 4.

14. The latex paint composition of claim 1, wherein the pigment has a minimum fineness of grind by Hegman gauge of at least 5.

15. The latex paint composition of claim 1, the paint composition further comprising a pigment dispersing agent.

16. The latex paint composition of claim 15, wherein the pigment dispersing agent comprises one or more of a solvent or surfactant.

17. The latex paint composition of claim 15, wherein the pigment dispersing agent is present at lower than about 0.5% by weight.

18. The latex paint composition of claim 1, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is present in a suitable amount to provide reduction of E. Coli ATCC 11229 by greater than 3 logs within 2 hours of application of the bacteria to a dried surface of the paint composition, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound-comprises one or more of n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides, the n-alkyl being a C.sub.8-C.sub.18 alkyl, benzalkonium chloride, the alkyl side chain-being C.sub.8, C.sub.10, C.sub.12, C.sub.14, C.sub.16 or C.sub.18 or mixtures thereof, n-alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chlorides, the n-alkyl being a C.sub.8-C.sub.18 alkyl, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides, the alkyl side chain being C.sub.6-C.sub.12, n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, and dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, or mixtures thereof.

19. The latex paint composition of claim 1 having a viscosity of under 120 KU.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) The present invention comprises, in one embodiment, a paint composition comprising water, latex binder resin, pigment, and additives, wherein such additives include, but are not limited to, a quaternary ammonium compound. In one useful embodiment, the latex binder resin and the quaternary ammonium compound have a compatibility score of less than 0.7 g, for example, less than 0.5 g, and further for example, less than 0.35 g, as measured by the Polymer/Quaternary Ammonium Compound Compatibility Test (hereinafter Compatibility Test) described herein. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a high quality paint composition having broad spectrum biocidal capabilities. In one useful embodiment, the dried paint film is capable of reducing gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria, and viruses by greater than 3 logs within 2 hours of application of the bacteria or viruses to the coated surface. Bacterial and viral reduction is measured in a test based on the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) Z 2801 as described herein and compared to a control paint that does not contain a quaternary ammonium compound.

(2) In a particularly useful embodiment, the paint composition of the present invention has one or more of the following characteristics: pigment volume concentration (PVC) of less than 60, about 25% to about 65% by weight solids, at least 17% by weight binder up to about 55% by weight binder polymer solids, and at least 10% by weight of a hiding pigment, for example, titanium dioxide. In one useful embodiment of the invention, the pigments used in the paint composition have a minimum fineness of grind by Hegman gauge of at least 4, for example, at least 5. Further, the paint composition may have one or more of the following qualities: good application and appearance, good stability, and good durability. Good application and appearance refers to one or more of the following properties: flow and leveling, color uniformity, durability of tinted coating to shear, contrast ratio, tint strength, and applied hide. Good durability refers to one or more of the following properties: abrasive scrub resistance as measured by ASTM Test Method D 2486-74A (>400 scrubs), block resistance measured by ASTM-D 4946-89, (>6 after 1 day and 7 days), and adhesion measured by ASTM-D3359 Test Method A (greater than 3 A). In another useful embodiment, the paint composition, when applied to a surface and dried, has a Gloss at 60 of 5-85 units, for example, over 5 up to 85 units.

(3) The term quaternary ammonium compounds as used herein refers to quaternary ammonium salt antibacterial agents having the structural formula:

(4) ##STR00001##
wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are linear or branched chain alkyl groups or mixtures of groups having 1-7 carbons, R.sub.3 is a linear or branched chain alkyl group or mixtures of groups containing 6-20 carbons, and R.sub.4 is selected from linear or branched chain alkyl groups or mixture of groups having 6-20 carbons, benzyl or C1-C18 alkyl benzyl groups, or

(5) ##STR00002##
where R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be the same or different from each other, and X represents a halide, in particular chloride, bromide or iodide, carbonate, methosulfate, or saccharinate. In a particularly useful embodiment the quaternary ammonium compound does not contain or is substantially free of silicon species. Useful examples of quaternary ammonium compounds include, but are not limited to n-alkyl (C8-C18) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides, benzalkonium chloride (where the alkyl side chain is C8, C10, C12, C14, C16 or C18 or mixtures thereof), n-alkyl (C8-C18) dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chlorides, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides (where the alkyl side chain is C6-C12), n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, and mixtures of same. A variety of useful quaternary ammonium compounds are commercially available including, but not limited to BarquatMB-50, BarquatMB-80, and Bardac 2250 quaternary ammonium compounds available from Lonza, Inc., BTC1010, BTC2125, and BTC818-80% available from Stepan Company. Other useful quaternary ammonium compounds may include compounds having the following structures:

(6) ##STR00003##
where R.sub.1 is C.sub.8-C.sub.18-alkyl or -alkenyl, for example, -alkyl, where R.sub.2 is C.sub.8-C.sub.18-alkyl or -alkenyl, for example, -alkyl, aryl or C.sub.7-C.sub.18-aralkyl, in which the aromatic rings can additionally be substituted, for example by chlorine and/or bromine, where R.sub.3 is C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, for example, methyl, and can be identical or different, where R.sub.4 is H or methyl, and where A is an anion of an organic or inorganic acid. Possible anions A are, for example, chloride, bromide, acetate, propionate, benzoate or 1 equivalent of sulfate. The radicals R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 in Formula II can be identical or different. For example, in one useful embodiment, compounds of Formula II in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are C.sub.10-C.sub.12-alkyl or both radicals R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are C.sub.10-C.sub.12-alkyl may be used. Compounds of the Formulas II and III are, for example, octyl-trimethylammonium bromide, decyl-trimethyl-ammonium chloride, didecyl-dimethylammonium chloride, dedecyl-methylhydroxyethylammonium propionate, lauryl-trimethylammonium chloride, lauryl-pyridinium chloride, hexadecyl-trimethylammonium chloride, stearyl-trimethylammonium chloride and stearyl-dimethylbenzylammonium chloride. Paint compositions in accordance with the present invention may contain a single quaternary ammonium compound, as described above, or mixtures of two or more quaternary ammonium compounds.

(7) A paint composition made in accordance with the present invention may comprise about 0.25% by weight up to about 3% by weight, for example, about 0.5% to about 1.5% of at least one quaternary ammonium compound.

(8) Paint compositions in accordance with the present invention generally comprise at least about 17%, for example, at least about 17.5% by weight, to about 55% by weight of binder polymer solids. Binders useful in latex paint compositions are known in the art and include polymeric binders, such as acrylics, vinyl acrylics, or styrene acrylics binders. In one embodiment of the present invention, the paint composition is formulated to have a binder which is particularly compatible with the quaternary ammonium compound to avoid precipitation. The compatibility of the binder with the quaternary ammonium compound is determined by observing and measuring the degree of precipitation of binder and pigment when the quaternary ammonium compound is added to the paint composition as described in detail below:

(9) Polymer/Quaternary Ammonium Compound Compatibility Test

(10) Polymer preparation: Selected commercially available and proprietary polymers were diluted to 23.5% weight solids in water.

(11) Quaternary Ammonium compound preparation: Selected commercially available quaternary ammonium compounds were diluted to 50% of their original concentration in water to enhance accurate delivery. (BTC2125M-80, BTC1210, BTC1010 and BTC818 quaternary ammonium compounds from Stepan and Barquat MB-50 and Bardac 2250 quaternary ammonium compounds from Lonza.

(12) 20.0 g of diluted polymer was mixed by hand with sufficient diluted quaternary ammonium compound to yield a concentration of 0.28% active quaternary ammonium compound in the 20.0 g polymer. The mixture was stirred slowly for 5 minutes and allowed to sit at room temperature, covered, for 1 hour. Any liquid was poured off from the vessel. The remaining solids were allowed to dry overnight at 70-77 F. then weighed. A control for each polymer with no quaternary ammonium compound was prepared and the solids weight of the control was subtracted from the weight of the corresponding polymer/quaternary ammonium compound samples in order to account for any losses during handling. The weight of solids observed minus the weight of the control solids results in the compatibility score. The binder polymers tested are listed in Table 1. The quaternary ammonium compounds tested are listed in Table 2. The results of compatibility testing for selected polymer/quaternary ammonium compound pairs is listed in Table 3. The term compatibility score for a polymer as used herein refers to the average compatibility score for that polymer with the six quaternary ammonium compounds tested and listed in Table 3.

(13) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Zeta Monomer Stabilization Potential Diameter* Polymer Chemistry Chemistry (mV) pH (nm) UCAR Vinyl Nonionic 7.75 4.79 220 6045.sup.1 acrylic UCAR Styrene Nonionic 7.08 9.03 98.5 461.sup.2 acrylic ROVACE Vinyl Nonionic 2.6 4.33 328 661.sup.3 acetate/ butyl acrylate JONCRYL Acrylic Anionic/ 13.14 9.08 64 537.sup.4 Nonionic JONCRYL Acrylic Anionic/ 24.77 8.14 135 1530.sup.5 Nonionic VINNAPAS Vinyl Anionic 20.66 4.15 214 EF-811.sup.6 acrylic ACRONAL Acrylic Anionic 14.82 7.98 162 OPTIVE 130.sup.7 Proprietary Vinyl Anionic/ 10.1 4.76 277 polymer A.sup.8 acrylic Nonionic Proprietary Acrylic Anionic/ 5.49 8.79 89.6 polymer B.sup.8 Nonionic Proprietary Latex Anionic 20.69 7.89 111.3 polymer C.sup.8 acrylic alkyd Proprietary Styrene- Anionic 13.71 8.55 93.1 polymer D.sup.8 acrylic Proprietary Styrene- Anionic 21.75 8.36 89.9 polymer E.sup.8 acrylic Proprietary Styrene- Anionic 7.75 4.79 220 polymer F.sup.8 acrylic Proprietary Styrene- Anionic 17.26 7.98 87.4 polymer G.sup.8 acrylic Proprietary Acrylic Anionic/ 22 7.96 153 polymer H.sup.8 nonionic Proprietary Vinyl Nonionic 3.22 5.15 311 polymer I.sup.8 acrylic Combination of Nonionic 4.3 5.15 UCAR6045/ Prop B (75/25) Combination of Anionic 18.64 8.46 Prop D and Prop E (50/50) *Intensity average diameter measured by a Malvern Zetasizer Nano-S Dynamic Light Scattering Instrument .sup.1Available from Arkema, Inc. .sup.2Available from Arkema, Inc. .sup.3Available from Dow. .sup.4Available from BASF. .sup.5Available from BASF. .sup.6Available from Wacker Chemie. .sup.7Available from BASF. .sup.8Proprietary polymers made by the assignee of the present application.

(14) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Quaternary Ammouium Compound Trade Name Chemical Structure (% Active) BTC2125 M n-Alkyl (60% C14, 30% C16, 5% C12, 5% C18) Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride (40%) n-Alkyl (68% C12, 32% C14) Dimethyl Ethylbenzyl Ammonium Chloride (40%) BTC1210 Didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (48.0%) Alkyl (50% C14, 40% C12, 10% C16) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (32.0%) BARQUATMB-50 Alkyl (C14 50%, C16 10%, C12 40%) Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride (50%) BTC1010 Didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (80%) BARDAC2250 Didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (50%) BTC818 Octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (80%)

(15) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 BTC BTC BARQUAT BTC BARDAC BTC 2125M 1210 MB-50 1010 2250 818 Score Score Score Score Score Score Aver- Standard Polymer (g) (g) (g) (g) (g) (g) age deviation PropI 0.06 0.02 0.07 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.04 0.03 UCAR 0 0.05 0.04 0.1 0 0.07 0.04 0.04 6045/Prop B (75/25) PropA 0.06 0.04 0.01 0 0.07 0.1 0.05 0.04 PropB 0 0.04 0.05 0.11 0.04 0.08 0.05 0.04 PropC 0.12 0.05 0.03 0.04 0.08 0.03 0.06 0.04 UCAR 0.15 0.11 0.08 0.05 0.11 0.09 0.10 0.03 6045 Rovace 0.14 0.12 0.19 0.15 0.09 0.05 0.12 0.05 661 PropF 0.04 0.06 0 0.41 0.14 0.08 0.13 0.17 Joneryl 0.02 0.23 0.08 0.27 0.04 0.19 0.14 0.11 537 UCAR 0.09 0.16 0.07 0.16 0.19 0.21 0.15 0.06 461 PropD 0.11 0.38 0.03 0.4 0.4 0.37 0.28 0.17 PropE 0 0.27 0.08 0.51 0.64 0.31 0.30 0.24 D/E 0.15 0.52 0.13 0.03 0.53 0.6 0.33 0.25 (50/50) PropG 0 0.38 0.34 0.34 0.5 0.51 0.35 0.19 Joncryl 0.25 0.5 1 0.55 0.33 0.54 0.48 0.44 0.12 1530 Vinnapas 0.97 0.23 1.52 0.42 0.36 0.72 0.70 0.48 EF811 PropH 0.78 0.86 0.89 0.82 0.8 0.8 0.83 0.04 Acronal 0.54 0.73 1.58 0.76 1.19 0.98 0.96 0.38 Optive 130

(16) The compatibility score for each polymer is the average score for the above test for all of the six quaternary ammonium compounds tested. In one embodiment of the invention, the polymer has a compatibility score of 0.7 or less. In one particularly useful embodiment, the polymer used in paint compositions in accordance with the present invention has a compatibility score of 0.5 or less. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the polymer used in paint compositions in accordance with the present invention has a compatibility score of 0.35 or less. It should be noted that the average is used as the compatibility score rather than the score for individual polymer/quaternary ammonium compound pairs. It has been determined that for polymers that have an average compatibility score of 0.7 or higher, even if a specific polymer/quaternary ammonium compound pair had an individual score of less than 0.7, that pair was not capable of making a stable composition as defined herein. It has also been determined that for polymers having an average score of 0.5 or less, that a pair having an individual score of above 0.5 were able to make a stable composition.

(17) The prior art has typically taught away from using quaternary ammonium compounds in latex paints, because the combination results in precipitation, i.e. a less stable composition. In one useful embodiment, the paint composition of the present invention is stable at room temperature for at least one week, for example, at least two weeks, and is also stable at 120 F. for at least one week, for example, at least two weeks. As used herein, a stable composition has a change in viscosity of less than 15 Krebs Units (KU) measured by a Stormer Electronic Viscometer Model KU1+(sample measured in a pint sized paint can, filled full and adjusted to 77 F.1 F.) after 1 week at 120 F. after the addition of a quaternary ammonium compound to the composition. In another useful embodiment of the invention, the paint composition has a viscosity under 120 KU, for example from 85-120 KU, further for example, about 90-110 KU as measured by a Stormer Electronic Viscometer Model KU1+.

(18) The results of the stability test are unexpected and surprising considering the zeta potential of the tested polymers. In general the magnitude of the zeta potential is an indicator of the stability of the polymer. Polymer particles with a large (either negative or positive) zeta potential tend to repel each other and are less likely to come together and flocculate or precipitate out of the dispersion. In general, particles with zeta potentials more positive than +30 mV or more negative than 30 mV are considered more stable. Indeed, particles with zeta potentials of 5 mV to +5 mV generally see rapid flocculation with particles having zeta potentials of 5 mV to 30 mV being only slightly more stable. In one embodiment of the present invention, useful polymers include those with zeta potentials between 0 mV and 30 mV, for example, polymers with zeta potentials between 0 mV and 25 mV.

(19) The paint composition of the present invention further comprises at least about 10% by weight pigments. Such pigments may comprise inorganic pigments, such as titanium dioxide. The high quality paint composition comprises, for example, at least about 11% by weight, further for example, at least about 12% by weight, further for example, at least about 13% by weight, further for example, at least about 14% by weight, further for example at least about 15% by weight, further for example, at least about 16%, further for example at least about 17%, further for example, at least about 18%, further for example at least about 19%, and even further for example at least about 20% up to about 30% by weight titanium dioxide. In another useful embodiment, the high quality paint composition comprises more than 10% titanium dioxide. Other colored pigments or dyes may also be added to the paint, alone or in combination, to produce a wide range of colored paint. Suitable additional pigments may include calcium carbonate, talc, clay, silicates, aluminum silicates, calcium metasilicates, aluminum potassium silicates, magnesium silicates, barium sulfates, nepheline syenite, feldspar, zinc oxides or sulfides, or others known to those skilled in the art. Such additional colored pigments may be included in amounts up to about 30% by weight, for example, about 10% to about 20%. In some cases, pigments may also refer to functional fillers which are non-water soluble solids. Such functional fillers may include solids which provide additional functional characteristics to the paint, for example, intumescent ingredients, such as ammonium polyphosphates, melamines, pentaerythritol and similar compounds. In one useful embodiment, the coating composition of the present invention is substantially free or totally free of intumscent ingredients such as ammonium polyphosphates, melamines, and pentaerythritol and similar compounds.

(20) The pigment volume concentration, or PVC, of a coating is the ratio of the volume of pigments (including functional fillers) to the volume of total non-volatile material (i.e. pigment and binder) present in the coating. The coating of the present invention preferably has a PVC of about 5 to about 60. In addition, the coating composition of the present invention has a maximum solids content of less than 65% by weight, for example, about 25% by weight to about 60% by weight, further for example about 30% by weight to about 58% by weight.

(21) The composition may also include various other additives, including but not limited to thickeners, such as urethane thickeners, and acrylic thickeners in amounts up to about 10% by weight, for example about 1% to about 2%. Synthetic organic materials might also be incorporated; these include plastic beads, hollow spheres or other similar materials. Other optional components include glycols such as ethylene and/or propylene glycol in amounts up to about 7% and other solvents such as diethylene glycol dibenzoate and dipropylene glycol dibenzoate in amounts up to about 3%. The coating composition may also contain pigment dispersing agents which can be solvents or surfactants; wet paint preservatives; dry film preservatives; foam control agents such as oils, fatty acids and silicones; slip and mar additives; adhesion promoters, and/or other known paint additives.

(22) The paint composition of the present invention may also comprise other biocides including but not limited to metal ion containing compounds, polymeric biocides, heterocyclic compounds, phenols, organometallics, aldehydes, proteins, peroxygens, alcohols, enzymes, polypeptides, and halogen releasing compounds.

(23) Paints made in accordance with the present invention are generally formulated to have a pH between 7 and 10.

(24) It has been observed that by premixing the quaternary ammonium compounds with a mixture of ester alcohols and oleic acid monoester propylene glycols that higher concentrations of quaternary ammonium salts can be achieved. This method comprises mixing together quaternary ammonium compound, with an ester alcohol, such as Texanol solvent, and oleic acid monoester propylene glycol, such as Loxanol EFC, and then adding the mixture to the paint composition. In one embodiment, the ester alcohol and oleic acid monoester propylene glycol are functional components of the paint composition. In one useful embodiment the ester alcohol and oleic acid monoester propylene glycol are added to the paint composition only by this method. In another embodiment, portions of the normally used amounts of the ester alcohol and oleic acid monoester propylene glycol are used to prepare the premix. For example, in one embodiment, about half of the normally used amounts of the ester alcohol and oleic acid monoester propylene glycol may be mixed with the quaternary ammonium compound for addition to the paint composition.

(25) In another embodiment, the quaternary ammonium compound included in the paint composition may be encapsulated within a solid shell (microcapsule) material. Microencapsulation of the quaternary ammonium compound serves to protect the paint from flocculation by minimizing or eliminating direct interactions between the quaternary ammonium compounds and the latex binder and other paint ingredients. In one embodiment, the microcapsule completely isolates the quaternary ammonium compound from interaction with the other paint components. The microcapsule may have a structure which allows it to isolate the quaternary ammonium compound from the rest of the paint components, but opens or bursts upon drying of the paint film to allow the quaternary ammonium compound to contact and kill or inactivate microorganisms or viruses which come into contact with the dried paint film surface. For example, the capsule could be designed to open as the pH of the system changes as the paint dries. In another embodiment, the evaporation of water from the system could cause the capsule to desiccate and burst. Means for encapsulating active materials (also referred to as delivery systems) are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Any such methods which are known or are later developed may be used in this invention.

(26) It should be noted that in order to make a latex paint formulation, an appropriate dispersant/surfactant system is needed in order to disperse the pigments in the paint formulation. The process for selecting dispersants/surfactants for paint formulations is well known to those of ordinary skill in the paint formulation art. After selecting a compatible polymer and quaternary ammonium compound as described herein, one of ordinary skill in the art would be able to select a dispersant/surfactant combination in order to make a desired paint composition.

(27) In one useful embodiment, the dried paint film is capable of reducing gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria, and viruses by greater than 3 logs within 2 hours of application. The bacterial and viral reduction is measured in a test based on the JIS Z 2801 modified for paints as described herein and compared to a control paint that does not contain a quaternary ammonium compound.

EXAMPLES

(28) Exemplary stable, high quality paint formulations were made by mixing the following components using techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art:

Comparative Example

(29) TABLE-US-00004 COMPONENT Weight % UCAR 6045 30.62 Proprietary Polymer B (55% solids) 8.19 Defoamer.sup.1 0.25 WATER 19.73 Hydroxyethyl cellulose thickener.sup.2 0.02 Dispersant.sup.3 0.49 Titanium Dioxide (dry) 23.29 Pigment.sup.4 9.05 Pigment.sup.5 3.45 Coalescent.sup.6 0.26 Rheology modifier.sup.7 2.85 Rheology modifier.sup.8 1.29 Nonionic surfactant.sup.9 0.43 Aqueous ammonia 0.08 Total 100 .sup.1BYK 024 from Byk Chemie .sup.2CELLOSIZE QP-4400H from Dow .sup.3TAMOL 1254 from Dow. .sup.4MINEX 4 from Unimin Specialty Minerals .sup.5MINEX 2 from Unimin Specialty Minerals .sup.6LOXANOL EFC 100 from Cognis .sup.7ACRYSOL RM-8W from Dow .sup.8ACRYSOL RM-2020 NPR from Dow .sup.9TRITON X-102 from Dow

(30) Example 1 was made by adding 0.65 g of Barquat MB-80 Quaternary Ammonium Compound to a paint prepared in accordance with the Comparative Example then stirring with an air mixer at room temperature for 10 minutes.

(31) Paint compositions as described herein were tested for antimicrobial activity. Paint coupons for the bacterial testing were made using the following procedure: A 7 mil wet film caster was used to draw down HARMONY interior acrylic latex (flat, extra white) paint on a black Leneta scrub chart P121-10N. The base coat was air dried overnight and a 7 mil film caster was then used to draw down the paint of Example 1 over it. After air drying overnight, a second 7 mil coating of Example 1 was applied and allowed to air dry overnight. A control with a base coat of Harmony interior acrylic latex paint and two coats of the Comparative Example paint was made using the same process. An additional control sample consisting of unpainted Leneta chart was tested in the same manner as the paint samples.

(32) To test the paint's ability to kill bacteria, Japanese Industrial Standard JIS Z 2801 was used with the following adaptations: The E. coli ATCC 11229 was used instead of ATCC8739 and 0.3 ml organic soil load (25 mL Fetal Bovine Serum+5 mL Triton X-100) was added to the culture. Three 1 in1 in pieces of Parafilm laboratory film were placed in a sterile glass Petri dish and a 20 cm20 cm sample from the center of the paint drawdown was placed on each of the prepared coupons. Twenty-five pi of inoculum were placed on the paint surface. After inoculation, the samples were covered with a glass coverslip and incubated for 2 hours at saturation humidity. The comparative example paint was processed in the same way as the paint of Example 1. The bacteria was recovered by placing the paint square, parafilm and coverslip in a sterile 50 ml conical tube filled with 5 ml of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and vortexed for 15-30 seconds to release the remaining bacteria back into solution. A total viable count (TVC) was performed on the eluent solution. Colony Forming Units/milliliter (CFU/ml) of bacteria recovered from each sample was calculated, and results were reported as the log reduction in CFU/ml of the antimicrobial paint compared to the untreated paint. A measurement of the CFU/ml of the inoculum was made by transferring 25 l bacterial culture directly into a sterile 50 ml tube containing 5 ml of PBS, and completing the test method. The CFU/ml of the Staph innoculum was determined to be 9.710.sup.5 and the CFU/ml of the E. Coli innoculum was determined to be 1.010.sup.6. The effectiveness of the test conditions was judged to be adequate because the CFU/ml of the innoculum was between 2.510.sup.5 and 110.sup.7 CFU/ml and the CFU/ml of the unpainted Leneta chart and parafilm control and the comparative example were between 5 and 6.7 Log.sub.10 CFU/ml.

(33) The results of the antimicrobial testing for these paints are summarized in Table 4.

(34) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 4 Log.sub.10 CFU/ml, Log.sub.10 CFU/ml, Sample S. aureus 2 hrs E. coli 2 hrs Unpainted Control 5.6 5.9 Comparative example: 5.5 5.3 Example 1: 1.2 1.3 Log reduction 4.4 4.6

(35) Separate paint coupons for viral testing were made using the same procedure as described above for the bacterial testing except that no unpainted films were used. To test the paint's ability to inactivate viruses, the following procedure was used. A Stock Influenza A virus (ATCC VR-544 Strain Hong Kong) in Minimum Essential Medium, containing 1% fetal bovine serum was used in this test. The stock virus was stored at 70 C. On the day of testing, the stock virus was titred by 10-fold serial dilutions and assayed for infectivity to determine the starting titer of the virus. The starting titer for the test was 110.sup.7.75 TCID.sub.50%/0.10 ml.

(36) Replicate 1 in1 in coupons coated with the paints of the Comparative Example and Example 1 were placed in sterile Petri dishes. The coupons were irradiated with UV light for about 15 minutes on each side. The samples were inoculated with a 100 l aliquot of the test virus. The inoculum was covered with carrier film (20 mm20 mm prepared from a sterile stomacher bag) and the carrier film was pressed down so that the test virus spread over the film but did not spill over the edge of the film. The exposure time began when each sample was inoculated. The samples were transferred to a controlled chamber set at 20 C. in a relative humidity of 40% for the duration of the exposure times. The coupons were kept in contact with the virus for 1 or 2 hours at 20 C. and 40% relative humidity.

(37) Following each exposure time, a 1.00 ml aliquot of test medium (Minimum Essential Medium supplemented with 1% v/v heat inactivated fetal bovine serum, 10 micrograms/ml gentamycin, 10 units/ml penicillin, and 2.5 micrograms/ml amphtericin B) was individually pipetted onto each test and control paint coupons as well as to the underside of the film used to cover each sample. The surface of each paint coupon was scraped with a sterile plastic cell scraper. The test medium was collected, mixed using a vortex type mixer and serial 10-fold dilutions were prepared. The serial dilutions were assayed for infectivity on Rhesus monkey kidney cells. The geometric mean of two TCID.sub.50% (Tissue Culture Infective Dose)/0.1 ml replicates for each of the Comparative example and Example 1 was determined and the log reductions at each contact time were calculated by subtracting the result of Example 1 from the Comparative Example.

(38) The results of the viral testing for paints made in accordance with the present invention are summarized in Table 5

(39) TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 5 Mean TCID.sub.50%/0.1 ml Mean TCID.sub.50%/0.1 ml (Tissue Culture (Tissue Culture Infective Dose) Infective Dose) Sample at 1 hour at 2 hours Comparative control: 7.63 Log.sub.10 7.38 Log.sub.10 Inventive example: 1.5 Log.sub.10 1.5 Log.sub.10 Log reduction 6.13 5.88