Novel antimicrobial N-halamine polymer coatings generated by emulsion polymerization

A new class of N-halamine polymers has been synthesized. These polymers can be emulsified in water to produce coatings which, once chlorinated, act as contact disinfectants. The surfaces inactivate bacterial organisms efficiently, requiring relatively brief contact times of several minutes. The latexes can be formed by copolymerization of a N-halamine precursor monomer with other monomers in water with the aid of a surfactant, or by chemically grafting the N-halamine precursor monomer onto an emulsified polymer backbone, followed by chlorination.