Chlorine dioxide antimicrobial agent for latex

Claim 1

A latex having improved resistance to the growth of bacteria comprising from about 35 to 75 parts by weight of one or more polymers selected from the group: homopolymers of C 4-6 conjugated diolefins, chloroprene polymers, vinyl pyridine polymers, homopolymers of vinylidene monoaromatic monomers, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, copolymers of acrylonitrile and butadiene; or copolymers of butadiene and styrene, copolymers of butadiene and styrene containing one or more monomers selected from the group alpha,beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, amide derivatives of alpha,beta ethylenically unsaturated acids which are unsubstituted or substituted at the nitrogen atom by a C 1-8 alkyl or a C 1-4 alkanol radical, or a C 1-8 alkyl ester of an alpha,beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid; and per 100 parts by weight to polymer solids in said latex a sufficient amount of an agent selected from the group: chlorine dioxide gas, aqueous solutions of chlorine dioxide, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorate and a mineral acid, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorate and an organic acid, or an organic anhydride, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorate and an organic peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorate and a reducing agent, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and mineral acid, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and an organic acid or an organic anhydride, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and an organic peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and a reducing agent or a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and chlorine, to provide from about 0.005 to about 0.2 parts by weight of chlorine dioxide per 100 parts by weight of polymer solids.

Claim 5

A method for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms in an aqueous latex of one or more polymers selected from the group: homopolymers of C 4-6 conjugated diolefins, chloroprene polymers, vinyl pyridine polymers, homopolymers of vinylidene monoaromatic monomers, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, copolymers of acrylonitrile and butadiene or copolymers of butadiene and styrene, copolymers of butadiene and styrene containing one or more monomers selected from the group alpha-beta ethylenically unsaturated aldehydes, alpha-beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, amide derivatives of alpha-beta ethylenically unsaturated acids which are unsubstituted or substituted at the nitrogen atom by a C 1-8 alkyl or a C 1-4 alkanol radical, or a C 1-8 alkyl ester of an alpha-beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid; which comprises adding to said latex an agent selected from the group chlorine dioxide gas, aqueous solutions of chlorine dioxide, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorate and a mineral acid, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorate and an organic acid, or an organic anhydride, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorate and an organic peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorate and a reducing agent, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and mineral acid, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and an organic acid or an organic anhydride, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and an organic peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and a reducing agent or a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and chlorine, in an amount sufficient to provide from about 0.001 to about 1.0 parts by dry weight of chlorine dioxide per 100 parts by weight of polymer in the latex.

Claim 6

A method for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms in an aqueous latex of one or more polymers selected from the group: homopolymers of C 4-6 conjugated diolefins, chloroprene polymers, vinyl pyridine polymers, homopolymers of vinylidene monoaromatic monomers, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, copolymers of acrylonitrile and butadiene or copolymers of butadiene and styrene, copolymers of butadiene and styrene containing one or more monomers selected from the group alpha-beta ethylenically unsaturated aldehydes, alpha-beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, amide derivatives of alpha-beta ethylenically unsaturated acids which are unsubstituted or substituted at the nitrogen atom by a C 1-8 alkyl or a C 1-4 alkanol radical, or a C 1-8 alkyl ester of an alpha-beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid; which comprises adding to said latex an agent selected from the group chlorine dioxide gas, aqueous solutions of chlorine dioxide, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorate and a mineral acid, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorate and an organic acid, or an organic anhydride, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorate and an organic peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorate and a reducing agent, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and mineral acid, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and an organic acid or an organic anhydride, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and an organic peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and a reducing agent or a mixture of an alkali metal chlorite and chlorine, in an amount sufficient to provide from about 0.001 to about 1.0 parts by dry weight of chlorine dioxide per 100 parts by weight of polymer in the latex.