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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising a mixture of:
 a. a carrier liquid;   b. a first complex of a cationic antimicrobial compound and a first anionic surfactant dispersed in the carrier liquid;   c. a second complex of a second anionic surfactant and at least one member selected from particles and immiscible droplets dispersed in the carrier liquid; and   d. said mixture is a colloid, a suspension, or a latex; and wherein   e. the cationic antimicrobial compound comprises a copolymer of a quaternized nitrogen-containing monomer and a hydrophilic comonomer.   
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer of the quaternized nitrogen-containing monomer is quaternized with an alkyl group. 
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the alkyl group has between 4 and 12 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         4 . A composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the alkyl group comprises a linear butyl group. 
     
     
         5 . A composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the alkyl group comprises a linear hexyl group. 
     
     
         6 . A composition of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises water, and the first anionic surfactant is sufficiently hydrophilic to suspend the cationic antimicrobial compound in the water. 
     
     
         7 . A composition of  claim 6 , wherein the hydrophilic comonomer and the first anionic surfactant together are sufficient to suspend the cationic antimicrobial compound in the water, and each of the hydrophilic comonomer and the first anionic surfactant alone are insufficient to suspend the cationic antimicrobial compound in the water. 
     
     
         8 . A composition of  claim 1 , wherein the first anionic surfactant comprises a phosphonate, a sulfonate, a sulfate monoester, a benzoate, a carboxylate, or a glycolic moiety. 
     
     
         9 . A composition of  claim 8 , wherein the first anionic surfactant has a greater affinity for the cationic antimicrobial compound than any other anions present in the carrier liquid. 
     
     
         10 . A composition of  claim 8 , wherein the first anionic surfactant has a hydrophobic portion having at least 6 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         11 . A composition of  claim 10 , wherein the first anionic surfactant has a hydrophobic portion having at least 8 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         12 . A composition of  claim 8 , wherein the first anionic surfactant has a hydrophobic portion having an aromatic group. 
     
     
         13 . A composition of  claim 12 , wherein the aromatic group has a hydrophobic substituent having at least 6 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         14 . A composition of  claim 13 , wherein the hydrophobic substituent comprises an alkyl group. 
     
     
         15 . A composition of  claim 9 , wherein the copolymer of the quaternized nitrogen-containing monomer is quaternized with an alkyl group having at least 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         16 . A composition of  claim 10 , wherein the copolymer of the quaternized nitrogen-containing monomer is quaternized with an alkyl group having at least 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         17 . A composition of  claim 11 , wherein the copolymer of the quaternized nitrogen-containing monomer is quaternized with an alkyl group having at least 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         18 . A composition of  claim 12 , wherein the copolymer of the quaternized nitrogen-containing monomer is quaternized with an alkyl group having at least 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         19 . A composition of  claim 13 , wherein the copolymer of the quaternized nitrogen-containing monomer is quaternized with an alkyl group having at least 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         20 . A composition of  claim 14 , wherein the copolymer of the quaternized nitrogen-containing monomer is quaternized with an alkyl group having at least 4 carbon atoms.