| abstract |
A siloxane quaternary ammonium salt is provided which can be either of two general classes: (1) a trisiloxane having a pendent quaternary ammonium group and a molecular weight of from about 600 to about 1,700; and (2) an ABA-type siloxane having a polydispersity of up to about 3.0 and a weight-average molecular weight of from about 800 to about 2,000, in which a central siloxane moiety is terminated at each end by a quaternary ammonium salt group. The anion in general can be any anion which does not adversely affect the thermal stability of the salt. The siloxane quaternary ammonium salt possesses antimicrobial properties and is intended for inclusion in a thermoplastic composition which can be melt extruded to form fibers and nonwoven webs, or other shaped articles, which exhibit antimicrobial properties. |