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Innovations
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| Germ Warfare Jennifer Medlin Abstract
A variety of products from socks to concrete now use the recently developed Microban process in the fight against germs. In the Microban process, antimicrobial additives are encapsulated in synthetic fiber or plastic pellets. The pellets are combined with a product's base polymer during the manufacturing process, giving the final product intrinsic antimicrobial properties.
The pellets are custom-designed to match each product's base material, and they are handled the same as the base during the manufacturing process. The additives are developed by different processes according to the type of material for which they are intended (e.g., fabric, molded plastic, etc.)
The Microban additives retain their antimicrobial properties for the life of the product into which they are incorporated. Several independent tests have been conducted and the additives have been found to be noncarcinogenic and nonallergenic. They have also been found to consistently reduce microbial populations on the surface of the materials into which they are incorporated. The additives have been either approved by the FDA or registered with the EPA, depending on how they are applied.
Because Microban is introduced during the base polymer's amorphous phase, it is free to migrate within the polymer. So when the product is scraped, scratched, or washed, new Microban molecules are released at the surface, providing fresh germ-killing power. Microban kills only the tiniest microorganisms so, while the antimicrobial additive is effective on bacteria and fungi, it is harmless to higher life forms.
Some of Microban's customers are now doing long-term studies to explore the additives' effectiveness in inhibiting the transmission of infectious diseases. Products such as steps, handrails, toilet seats, trash receptacles, and tiles could be the next to benefit from the unique powers of Microban.
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