Dispersible antimicrobial complex and coatings therefrom

Abstract

Disclosed are latexes, suspensions, and colloids having a cationic antimicrobial compound complexed with an anionic surfactant. The surfactant may have greater affinity for the antimicrobial compound than other anionic surfactants and other anions in the latex, suspension, or colloid that contribute to disperse phase stability to prevent disrupting the dispersions. Dispersions containing the antimicrobial compound may therefore have a shelf life comparable to dispersions that are otherwise identical but lack the cationic antimicrobial compound and its complexed anionic surfactant. Coatings made with the complexes can exhibit essentially undiminished antimicrobial activity.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 511,975 filed May 27, 2017 by inventors Thomas Hopkins and Craig Kalmer and entitled “Dispersible Polymeric Antimicrobial”, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if put forth in full herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to antimicrobial compounds containing cationic quaternary nitrogen that are compatible with surfactant stabilized suspensions and colloids including emulsion and latex formulations.BACKGROUND[0003]Various dispersants and surfactants have been developed so that small non-polar particles can be evenly dispersed within an aqueous or aqueous organic carrier. These small particles can be organic or inorganic in nature. Organic particles may include, but are not limited to, small molecule, monomeric, or polymeric entities. The particles may be solid, liquid, or gas. These formulatio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a composition that contains a mixture of a carrier liquid and a complex that has a cationic antimicrobial polymeric portion and an anionic surfactant-compatibilizing portion. The complex has a greater ionic attraction to the cationic polymer and anionic surfactant than to other ions in the liquid carrier. This results in the complex having antimicrobial activity to reduce bacteria. The anionic surfactant-compatibilizing portion suspends the complex in the carrier liquid. The mixture without the complex is a suspension or colloid, while the mixture with the complex remains a suspension or colloid. The patent also describes a method to prevent precipitation and destabilization of a suspension or colloid by adding a first anionic surfactant to a mixture that includes a cationic antimicrobial compound and a second anionic surfactant. Overall, the technical effect of this patent is a stable and effective composition that prevents destabilization of a suspension or colloid and reduces the presence of bacteria.

Problems solved by technology

The absence or removal of surfactants or dispersants from the colloid will frequently result in the association or agglomeration of the suspended non-polar particles.

The resulting aggregation of particles will destabilize the colloid resulting in a non-homogeneous suspension of limited utility.

Unfortunately, the most commonly available antimicrobials (quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, and other cationic materials) are frequently not compatible with these surfactants and dispersants.

These complexes are no longer capable of stabilizing the suspension as they are effectively made unavailable, and the dispersed elements begin to agglomerate, flocculate or coalesce.

In addition, it is particularly difficult to disperse particles of various hydrophobic small molecules and polymers in water.

It can be quite difficult to re-disperse these polymeric particles that have settled within the container as a consequence of clumping.

The non-homogeneity of the resulting suspension results in a non-homogeneous application and final coating.

It can therefore be quite difficult to form a stable dispersion of these antimicrobial polymers in an aqueous carrier to form e.g. a water-based paint that is antimicrobial.

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