Anti-odour and antibacterial fabric in textile goods

Abstract

This Invention Patent application consists of a fabric to be used in textile applications, which makes those items more comfortable and increases their bactericidal capacity, both in the number of types that it fights, and in the time that this capacity is effective, using a mixture of fibers and performing a series of treatments prior to the final manufacture of the textile goods that reinforce the properties of the fabric.

Claims

1. An anti-odor and antibacterial fabric for textile goods made up of a mixture of fibres and giving off zinc to perform the function of avoiding odors and eliminating bacteria, wherein the mixture of fibres having at least one type of antibacterial fibre made up of cellulose and a derivative of zinc oxide, with the zinc oxide derivative on the inside of a structure of the at least one type of antibacterial fibre wherein the proportion of the mixture of fibres of the fabric is made up of a percentage of antibacterial fibre between 8% and 70%, the rest of the fibers being natural and synthetic fibres, and the fabric structure being treated with a hydrogen peroxide derivative and an aluminum derivative, incorporated by subjecting the fabric to a bath, so that the mixture of fibres provides a thread stiffness of 69 CN %, and so that the fabric absorbs water more quickly than a cotton fabric.

2. The anti-odor and antibacterial fabric for textile goods according to the claim 1, wherein the fabric is used for making socks, hose, underwear, medical-healthcare items and household linens.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(1) In one of the preferred forms of the invention, we have obtained a fabric for use in textile goods, applied preferably to socks, hose, underwear, other health applications, household linens, etc., to avoid odours, possible bacteria, and to increase the comfort of the same.

(2) This fabric is made up of a mixture of fibres, where usually this mixture that makes up the thread has cotton fibre and an antibacterial fibre with a percentage of the latter of between 8% and 70%.

(3) This antibacterial fibre is made up of cellulose and derivatives of zinc oxide, wherein said zinc is incorporated into the structure of the fibre itself, usually through extrusion, to be given off in a way that it lasts through washing, withstanding up to around 75 washings, so it may be said that the useful properties of said fibre last practically throughout the life of a sock.

(4) This mixture of fibres for creating the fabric provides a thread stiffness of 69 cN/%, whereas a 22/1 Ne made of cotton has a stiffness of 78 cN/%.

(5) The cellulose composition of the antibacterial fibre that forms a part of the mixture of fibres of the fabric increases the property of water absorption, so that for a cotton fabric a test of water absorption at 37 C. and 75% humidity scores 7.7%, whereas for the fabric indicated, with minimum values of 20% of antibacterial fibre, the score is 11%.

(6) The fabric treated with an aluminium derivative allows the fabric to absorb water more quickly than a cotton fabric, reducing the time of absorption by at least 30%.

(7) The stiffness of the fabric, its ability to absorb water, and the speed at which it does so allow for a very comfortable fabric, superior to cotton fabrics, for instance, as has already been shown; the greater the absorption, the greater the feeling of comfort.

(8) Besides its composition and the previous aluminium treatment, the fabric also undergoes a treatment wherein a hydrogen peroxide derivative is added to its structure, which is given off as the fabric is used, allowing a great antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral action, also avoiding the formation of algae and spores. The types of bacteria that its development avoids widens those avoided by the zinc of the fibre itself, and among others, they are: Gram-positive bacteria: Staphilococcus Aureus, Corynebacterium Diptheriae, Listeria Monocytogenes, Streptococci, Micrococcus Luteus, MRSA and Enterococcus Faecium. Gram-negative bacteria: Eschericha Coli, Klebsiella Pneumoniae, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Salmonella Choleraesuis, Proteus Vulgaris, Serratia Marcescens, Proteus Mirabilis.

(9) With this treatment, families of fungi are also eliminated, such as: Aspergillus Niger, Cladosporium spp, Trichophyton mentagrophites, Candida Albicans, Penicillium Citrinum, Fusarium Solani, Alternaria spp.

(10) Besides this, it also avoids the formation of some types of algae and spores, as well as its action against some viruses, such as Influenza A (H1N1), Rhinovirus, Herpes Simplex and Feline Calicivirus.

(11) Preferably, fabric is used for making socks, although hose, underwear, and fabrics for medical-healthcare items and household linens will also be made. In the making of socks, cellulose antibacterial fibres of a length of 20 mm to 100 mm are used, and of a thickness of 1 dtex to 8 dtex.

(12) Having sufficiently described this invention, it is easy to see that any sort of modification deemed necessary can be introduced as long as they do not change the essence of the invention, which is summarised in the following claims: