http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-05/kc-wog050903.php
Public release date: 9-May-2003
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Contact: Kirk Monroe
k...@kmcpr.com
202-331-0175
K-M Communications
War on germs gets cutting-edge weapon from ancient world technique
Antimicrobial powder coating for hospitals, homes uses silver --
Germ fighter pioneered by Egyptians, Phoenicians
Alexandria, VA - May 9, 2003 - Ancient Egyptians used it to keep
food supplies safe from fungus and mold. The Phoenicians used it to
keep water from being spoiled by germs. Today silver is a key
ingredient in new high-tech, powder coated finishes that hospitals
and doctor's offices are using to protect walls, counters and other
germ-gathering surfaces. Tomorrow those finishes may be used in home
kitchens, bathrooms and on a wide variety of surfaces such as
doorknobs, handles and push panels.
"These new finishes are an important tool in preventing the growth
of microbes in or on commercial and consumer products such as HVAC
systems, food service equipment, refrigerators and humidifiers, for
use in hospitals, commercial buildings and homes," says Dr. Ravi
Bhatkal of AgION Technologies, Inc.
The new finishes have been developed by the manufacturers of powder
coating, an advanced method of finishing a wide range of materials
and products. In powder coating, often called "dry painting," tiny
dry particles of pigment and resin are given an electric charge,
then sprayed on to a wide variety of consumer and industrial
products. The electrostatic charge makes the powder particles stick
to the surface. When heated in an oven, the powder is permanently
fused into a uniform, durable, high-quality coating.
Long praised as a virtually pollution-free process that protects
products from chips, scratches and stains, the new germ fighting
powder coatings use silver as their key antimicrobial ingredient.
Silver's protective benefits have been known since ancient times.
And it's especially useful today, when germs are becoming
increasingly resistant to modern antibiotics.
"Research shows that the mechanisms by which silver ions act against
microbes are different than those by which antibiotics act,"
explains Dr. Bhatkal of AgION Technologies. "Silver also has
multiple mechanisms of action. Use of silver as an antimicrobial is
therefore unlikely to promote antibiotic resistance".
The new finishes have also been formulated to be effective long
term. According to Greg Bocchi, Executive Director of The Powder
Coating Institute, "Powder coating manufacturers have extended the
protective life of the new finishes by developing an inorganic,
ceramic additive that ensures the slow release of silver ions over a
long period of time."
Antimicrobial powder coatings are currently in use at the new City
of Hope's Helford Clinical Research Hospital in Duarte, California,
on ductwork, door handles and hardware and push plates. Other
hospitals and clinics are looking into using antimicrobial powder
coated materials in emergency rooms, surgery areas and patients
rooms, on cabinets, counters and other surfaces.
"These powder coatings just give us one more weapon against germs,"
says University of Arizona Microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba, "They
literally create self-sanitizing surfaces that require less time in
cleaning and give us all greater peace of mind."
These uses appear to be just the start. Bosch and Siemens in Munich,
Germany, is applying antimicrobial powder coating to the interior of
refrigerators. Honeywell Corporation, in this country, is using
powder coating to coat portable, air-blown humidifiers where wicks
soak up water, which can provide a breeding ground for germs.
And in the Los Angeles area, AK Coatings is setting up a special
Concept Home to field test antimicrobial powder coatings in high-
touch areas on a wide variety of surfaces such as door knobs,
handles and push panels, as well as on metal panels and railings
inside the home's elevator.
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Editors: To request photos, interviews, or for more information on
powder coating, please contact: Kirk Monroe, 202-331-0175, or via
email at k...@kmcpr.com
To learn more about powder coating, go to:
http://www.powdercoating.org
