| According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one of every 20 hospitalized patients will contract a healthcare-associated infection. Lab coats, scrub suits, uniforms, gowns, gloves and linens are known to harbor microbes that cause patient infections. Consumers� concern about harmful microbes has spurred the market for clothing, undergarments, foot wear and home textiles with antimicrobial products. But to be practical, both commercial and consumer anti-microbial products must be inexpensive and lasting. A new technology that can inexpensively render permanently germ-free medical linens and clothing, face masks, paper towels, diapers, intimate apparel and athletic wear, has been developed. The simple and inexpensive antimicrobial technology developed by University of Georgia (UGA) researcher has invented works on natural and synthetic materials. The technology can be applied during the manufacturing process or at home, and it doesn�t come out in the wash. Unlike other antimicrobial technologies, repeated applications are unnecessary to maintain effectiveness. Jason Locklin, the inventor, is an assistant professor of chemistry in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and on the Faculty of Engineering. The antimicrobial treatment effectively kills a wide spectrum of bacteria, yeasts and molds that can cause disease, break down fabrics, create stains and produce odors. This technology uses ingeniously simple, inexpensive and scalable chemistry. It is simple to apply in the manufacture of fibers, fabrics, filters and plastics, and can bestow antimicrobial properties on finished products, such as athletic wear and shoes, and textiles for the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. Its biggest advantage is that the permanent antimicrobial can be applied to a product at any point of the manufacture-sale-use continuum. In contrast, competing technologies require blending of the antimicrobial in the manufacturing process. Also, if for some reason the antimicrobial layer is removed from an article, it can be reapplied by simple spraying. Other markets for the antimicrobial technology include military apparel and gear, food packaging, plastic furniture, pool toys, medical and dental instrumentation, bandages and plastic items. The antimicrobial has been tested against many of the pathogens common in healthcare settings, including staph, strep, E. coli, Pseudomonas and Acetinobacter. After just a single application, no bacterial growth was observed on the textile samples added to the culture-even after 24 hours at 37 degrees Celsius. Moreover, in testing, the treatment remained fully active after multiple hot water laundry cycles, demonstrating the antibacterial does not leach out from the textiles even under harsh conditions. Thin films of the new technology also can be used to change other surface properties of both cellulose- and polymer-based materials. �It can change a material�s optical properties-color, reflectance, absorbance and iridescence-and make it repel liquids, all without changing other properties of the material," adds Gama. Five new US, European and Japanese companies join A*STAR�s Industrial Consortium On Nanoimprint (ICON) to engineer marine life-inspired antimicrobial surfaces for use on medical devices and other industry applications. Taking a cue from animals like dolphins and pilot whales that are known to have anti-fouling skins, the researchers are using nanotechnology to create synthetic, chemical-free, antibacterial surfaces. The surfaces can reduce infections caused by pathogens such as S. aureus and E. coli and can be used on common plastics, medical devices, lenses and even ship hulls. Conventional methods for preventing bacterial surface attachment may use potentially harmful metal ions, nanoparticles, chemicals or UV-radiation. Nanoimprint technology, a form of nanotechnology, is a simple technique that has been developed by IMRE to make complex nanometer-sized patterns on surfaces to mimic the texture of natural surfaces. This gives the engineered material �natural� properties such as luminescence, adhesiveness, water-proofing and anti-reflectivity. The antibacterial surfaces research is ICON�s second industry-themed project and will involve A*STAR�s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) and companies like Nypro Inc (U.S.), Hoya Corporation (Japan), Advanced Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, LLC (ATRM) (USA), NIL Technology ApS (Denmark) and Akzo Nobel (UK). This is also the first time that 3 local polytechnics, namely Singapore Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic are working with the consortium partners, under a special arrangement. The antimicrobial surfaces project will demonstrate the versatility of nanoimprinting technology and its benefits to a wide range of industries. In the past few years, hygiene issues have been becoming more and more relevant. As population increases, it is inevitable to find a solution to reduce the problems with microbial contaminations. Bacteria, fungi and algae can be major problems in health, construction, food, and packaging industries, as per Helmut Kaiser Consultancy. Contamination problems are especially relevant in the health industry- there are a lot of cases of nosocomial infections in hospitals, which can be prevented through hygiene and disinfection. Antimicrobials can be used to control the build up and growth of bacteria in surfaces, such as plastics and other materials. The market for antimicrobial additives has been developing steadily, with the largest market share for the food and beverages industry. The highest markets for plastic additives are in the field of fire protection and antimicrobials. USA, Europe, China and other Asia Pacific countries consume about a third of the plastic additive volume, followed by other countries. The market is relatively new and will develop in the near future. Major developments and growth will be seen in China, India, and the rest of Asia. With the increasing awareness of disinfection and potential liabilities for microbes and food borne pathogens, we can also expect a high growth in the food Industry (Food and Beverages) and disinfection. In the future nanotechnology will play a more crucial role in the development of this market. With nanotechnologies, we will be able to produce particles small enough to be use effectively as plastics and polymer additives. This means that we will be able to produce plastics with different properties, with more efficient antimicrobial or fire retardant properties. The growth of nanotechnology markets will influence the whole additive markets, including antimicrobials. Antimicrobial additives and coating will experience a high growth in the future, with new innovations, research and developments in this area. Some of the applications of these antimicrobial plastics include hospitals, public facilities, furniture and food/beverage packaging. |
20-Nov-23
Dear Sir, Good day Please share the additive details to avoid odor/smell issues with the Water and beverage HDPE caps/closures
05-May-23
What is the name of the new polymeric stripping agent from BYK-Chemie to help reduce odors in PP bottles?
22-Jan-23
I need a product to remove bad odors/smells from pelletized Poly prop when used on injection moulding machines
18-Sep-22
I wish to buy the product
17-Mar-22
Hello we are manufacturer of recycled plastic granuals and want to remove smell from my product
02-Dec-21
Respected sir/madam I need chemical to remove the odor of recycle polymer ( L D P E / H D P E)after processing. Thanks
10-Sep-21
We Want To Neuatralize The Bad Odour Of Recycled Lubricating Oil, To Odourless Let Me Know If You Can Assits In Solving This Problem.
11-Jun-21
To remove bad smell from reprocessed milky PP granules
16-Apr-21
tôi đang sản xuất găng tay cao su tự nhiên và muốn tìm phụ gia để loại bỏ mùi cao su
03-Apr-21
Hi we are manufacture of reclaim rubber EPDM sheets from scrap type we need some additives to control odour while process if you have solution please contact me.
01-Oct-20
For odour absorbing additive Mail us shinewax@gmail.com Call us at 09910969558
01-Oct-20
shinewax@gmail.com
17-Aug-20
Hi, We are recycling HDPE from oil canisters we are looking for additives that can absorb the oil smell.
23-Jul-20
Hi we are manufacture of reclaim rubber sheets from scrap type we need some additives to control odour while process if you have solution please contact us
26-Feb-20
Sir, We needs all types foul smell remover products for plastics and food application.pl send details.
11-Jan-20
We are making pvc granules from ICW cables, Main complaint from buyer is about odor.. Do you have a dedicated product for PVC? Its really helpful for us if your chemical solve our problem.. pls contact me if you have any product for our pupose. thanks
18-Oct-19
We 're pallet plastic manufacturer from 100% recycle plastic (HDPE, LDPE & PP) in Indonesia Odor/ smell on our raw material or even after becoming a finished product is our main problem. Could you please send the detail TDS or MSDS and also price quotation about your product? I' m very interesting to know more about your product Thank You
16-Sep-19
Hi, We are an compounding industry and we are doing compounding specially in polypropylene, we are using reprocess material too. So we need ur support to solve the odour issue from our product. our limitation is to follow the EU regulation for the material, so as per mentioned above if it can solve the issue then please suggest.
15-May-19
Hello, Could kindly send me more information about the product to my email. I am interested in buying it.
04-May-19
Odours removing chemicals for Polypropylene granules l iam looking to buy it in Mumbai so please suggest something
08-Feb-19
Hi, I’m looking for odour remover chemical, which can remove the odour from recycling Polymer. Regards Vishwajit Singh Mob.- 7674895320
07-Feb-19
Do you have a dedicated product for PVC? odorless or odor absorbed in Wire and Cable Industries. Please introduce me if you know other companies with these conditions. thanks
20-Dec-18
I am very interested for this product.
04-Apr-18
I am a plastic industry MD
23-Feb-18
I m interested to buy material