Fabric material infused or impregnated with one or more beneficial agents and method of making thereof

Abstract

Disclosed herein is fabric composite material impregnated with beneficial agents. Also disclosed herein is the utilization of super critical fluid (SCF) methodology to impregnate fabric materials, such as apparel fabric materials, with a beneficial agent (e.g., antimicrobial, antibiofilm agents, etc.).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparel fabric composition, comprising:
 a base fabric material having a surface portion and an interior portion; and   a beneficial agent incorporated throughout the base fabric material, wherein at least a part of the interior portion of the base fabric material is impregnated with the beneficial agent.   
     
     
         2 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 1 , wherein the base fabric material comprises a synthetic material, and optionally wherein the synthetic material is selected from polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex, polyolefin, neoprene, fleece, microfiber, synthetic leather/suede, recycles thereof, or blends thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 1 , wherein the base fabric material comprises a natural material, and optionally wherein the natural material is selected from cotton, linen, hemp, bamboo, silk, jute, ramie, coir, rayon, cellulose, recycles thereof, or blends thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 1 , wherein the beneficial agent comprises an antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         5 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 4 , wherein the beneficial agent is a quaternary ammonium salt. 
     
     
         6 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 5 , wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is C12-C14-alkyl(ethylbenzyl)dimethylammonium chloride. 
     
     
         7 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 5 , wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is C12-alkyl(ethylbenzyl)dimethylammonium chloride. 
     
     
         8 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 4 , wherein the antimicrobial agents inhibits or hinders growth of odor causing bacteria. 
     
     
         9 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 1 , wherein the beneficial agent is heterogeneously impregnated throughout the fabric material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 1 , wherein the beneficial agent is homogeneously impregnated throughout the fabric material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least 30% of the interior portion of the base fabric material is impregnated with the beneficial agent. 
     
     
         12 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least 50% of the interior portion of the base fabric material is impregnated with the beneficial agent. 
     
     
         13 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least 70% of the interior portion of the base fabric material is impregnated with the beneficial agent. 
     
     
         14 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition retains at least 50% of the beneficial agent after 10 uses. 
     
     
         15 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is present in, and provides structural strength to, a fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 1 , wherein the base fabric material is selected from textile material, mesh material, a foam material, a gel material, or combinations and laminates thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is prepared by a process comprising: contacting the base fabric material and the beneficial agent with supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SCF-CO 2 ) in an enclosure under an elevated pressure to allow the beneficial agent to impregnate at least a part of the interior portion of the base fabric material. 
     
     
         18 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 17 , wherein the process further comprises reducing the pressure within the enclosure after at least a part of the interior portion of the base fabric material is impregnated with the beneficial agent. 
     
     
         19 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 17 , wherein the base fabric material and beneficial agent are placed in the enclosure before SCF-CO 2  enters the enclosure. 
     
     
         20 . The apparel fabric composition of  claim 17 , wherein the beneficial agent is combined with SCF-CO 2  to form a mixture before the mixture contacts the base fabric material in the enclosure.