Additives
Remaking plastics with new additive developments Additive specialists are on a drive to develop and improve additive compounds to bring safety, convenience and environmental benefits to the marketplace, says Angelica Buan in this article.
Antimicrobials: armour against pathogens Sanitation has been added to our list of daily routine due to the pandemic. Nonetheless, habitually cleaning surface is not quite enough. It is, thus, not surprising that materials that provide a layer of microbial protection are getting consumer attention. Among the recent advances in this segment is Dutch biocompatible plastics and antibacterial polymers manufacturer Parx Materials’s Saniconcentrate, a patented additive technology that reduces Covid-19 virus on plastic surfaces by up to 99% in 24 hours. Saniconcentrate is homogenously incorporated into plastics to create an ’immune system’ inherent to the material. In particular, it works without biocides, leaching or adverse side effects, contrary to other antimicrobial technologies that have always used biocides, such as silver or copper, to destroy microorganisms. While this method may effectively destroy bacteria and viruses, it can lead to toxic substances leaching out of the material, contaminating the products or surfaces it is trying to protect, as well as contaminating the environment and making recycling a more challenging task. Moreover, bacteria and viruses tend to become resistant to biocides over time, reducing the efficacy. According to Parx Materials, Saniconcentrate Parx Materials’s uses a trace element abundantly found in the body to prevent bacteria and viruses Saniconcentrate is a patented additive from adhering to surfaces, technology that reduces causing them to run through Covid-19 virus on plastic their usual lifecycle and die surfaces by up to 99% in within hours. Because of this, 24 hours it is biocompatible, safe and its applications are limitless, adds Parx. It is currently in use in major supermarkets and has shown results in medical trials. Similarly, US-domiciled resin manufacturing company Avient Corporation offers antimicrobial solutions demonstrating high efficacy against bacterial growth. It recently launched three proprietary thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) formulations that contain antimicrobial additives, adding to its GLS TPE range. Tested in accordance with JIS Z2801 and ASTM G21-15 standards, these additives protect moulded plastic parts by inhibiting bacterial growth by 99.9% or more, and resisting fungal and mould growth. Additionally, GLS TPEs with antimicrobial additives can also help extend Avient has launched three proprietary TPE formulations that a product’s useful life, preserve its surface integrity, and contain antimicrobial additives increase its durability, adds Avient.
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JUNE 2021
