1. A method of inhibiting asexual reproduction of fungi, comprising contacting a fungus with a composition comprising a non-fungicidal, non-fungistatic, asexual reproduction inhibitive concentration of o-phenylphenol or a derivative thereof.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the o-phenylphenol or derivative thereof is bound in a carrier molecule.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier molecule comprises a clathrate molecule.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the derivative of o-phenylphenol comprises an ester or ether thereof.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungus is human-pathenogenic.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungus is selected from the group consisting of the classes Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Deuteromycota, and Zygomycota, the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Mucor, and all human-pathenogenic forms of Candida.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fungus is selected from the group consisting of Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus albus, Aspergillus alliaceus, Aspergillus asperescens, Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus candidus, Aspergillus carbonarius, Aspergillus carneus, Aspergillus chevalieri, Aspergillus chevalieri var. intermedius, Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus ficuum, Aspergillus flavipes, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus giganteus, Aspergillus humicola, Aspergillus intermedius, Aspergillus japonicus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus niveus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus ostianus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus parasiticus var. globosus, Aspergillus penicilloides, Aspergillus phoenicis, Aspergillus rugulosus, Aspergillus sclerotiorum, Aspergillus sojae var. gymnosardae, Aspergillus sydowi, Aspergillus tamarii, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus terricola, Aspergillus toxicarius, Aspergillus unguis, Aspergillus ustus, Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus vitricolae and Aspergillus wentii.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises at least one substance other than the o-phenylphenol or derivative thereof, said substance comprising a biocide present in the composition in a fungicidal concentration.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises 0.000001% to 2% by weight of ophenylphenol or a derivative thereof.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the composition comprises 0.00001% to 1% by weight of o-phenylphenol or a derivative thereof.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the composition comprises 0.00001% to 0.1% by weight of ophenylphenol or a derivative thereof.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the composition comprises 0.00005% to 0,05% by weight of o-phenylphenol or a derivative thereof.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the composition comprises 0.00005% to 0.0005% by weight of o-phenyiphenol or a derivative thereof.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the composition comprises 0.001% to 1% by weight of o-phenylphenol or a derivative thereof.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the composition comprises 0.001% to 0.1% by weight of o-phenylphenol or a derivative thereof.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungus is present on a material selected from the group consisting of textiles, ceramics, metals, filter media, construction materials, construction adjuvants, furs, paper, hides, leather, and plastics.
17. A sealing compound comprising one or more acrylate or urethane polymers, one or more organic or inorganic fillers, and 0.000001% to 2% by weight of o-phenylphenol or a derivative thereof.
18. The sealing compound of claim 17, further comprising at least one other biocidal substance present in a fungicidal concentration.
19. An adhesive composition comprising at least one adhesive compound and 0.000001% to 2% by weight of o-phenylphenol or a derivative thereof.
20. The composition of claim 19, wherein the adhesive compound is water-soluble.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of testing an airbag module comprising the step of testing said module for exposure to a given fluid.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said given fluid is water.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said fluid exposure test comprises the step of inspecting said airbag module or a swab taken therefrom by means of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy techniques.
4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said fluid exposure test comprises the step of inspecting said airbag module or a swab taken therefrom for deposits of a metal.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the step of inspecting for deposits of a metal comprises the step of inspecting for cations.
6. A method as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the step of inspecting for deposits of a metal quantifies the amount of metal deposited.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of inspecting for deposits of a metal quantifies the amount of metal deposited for a given surface area of airbag module.
8. A method as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the step of inspecting for deposits of a metal comprises the step of taking a swab from a surface of said airbag module by applying a solvent to said surface.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the solvent is 5% hydrochloric acid.
10. A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the step of inspecting for deposits of a metal further comprises the step of agitating said swab with 1% lanthanum chloride solution.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of inspecting for deposits of a metal further comprises the step of inspecting the mixture of 1% lanthanum chloride solution and swab by means of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy so as to determine the quantity of a deposited metal present in said mixture.
12. A method as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11, wherein said swab is taken from a surface of said airbag module which cannot be conveniently wiped clean.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said surface is a surface of or adjacent a gas generator of said airbag module.
14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said surface is a surface of a reaction can of said airbag module.
15. A method as claimed in any of claims 4 to 14, wherein the fluid exposure test comprises the further step of determining a threshold quantity of a deposited metal which, if found on said airbag module, indicates an unacceptable risk of said module having been damaged through fluid exposure.
16. A method as claimed in any of claims 4 to 15, wherein said deposited metal is calcium or sodium.
17. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said fluid exposure test comprises the step of inspecting said airbag module or a swab taken therefrom by means of Inductively Coupled Plasma, polarography or colourimetric techniques.
18. A method of testing an airbag module comprising the steps of: (i) locating an airbag module which has been previously installed; (ii) establishing a set of criteria to be satisfied before said airbag module is deemed acceptable for future use; and (iii) investigating against said set of criteria so as to determine the acceptability of said airbag module for future use.
19. A method as claimed in claim 18 comprising the methods of testing an airbag module for exposure to a given fluid according to any of claims 1 to 17.