Laboratory tests have gone on to reveal that Heraeus Precious Metals’ AGXX antimicrobial surface technology happens to be completely compatible with Impranil® PU dispersions that are a part of the waterborne INSQIN® textile coating technology coming from Covestro, therefore paving the way for more sustainable antimicrobial textile coatings.
The discovery happens to come at a very vital moment for the textile coatings sector. As the sharing economy consistently grows, there happen to be more people coming into regular contact along with high-use surfaces, thereby creating ideal conditions when it comes to bacteria, viruses as well as other microorganisms to thrive.
These applications happen to range from office furniture that is used across shared offices to car interiors that are pretty frequently made use of in car sharing to even public transport.
Simultaneously, as per the review process of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), conventional antimicrobial silver technologies happen to face the steep challenge of meeting the needs of the BPR because of process concerns when it comes to potential harm to human and animal as well as ecological health. Apparently, there are many that are now set to be phased out in the times to come.
So as to address the demand when it comes to more sustainable antimicrobial textile coatings, Heraeus Precious Metals went on to create AGXX, which is a system that eradicates a wide range of bacteria and fungi as well as viruses without even releasing harmful silver-ion components. AGXX happens to work because of a catalytic reaction of two precious metals, which converts oxygen into reactive oxygen species (ROS) by way of using moisture derived from humidity in the air. These ROS go on to eliminate the microbes through disrupting their outer cell membranes and organelles as well as the DNA.
The Global Head of Antimicrobial Technologies with Heraeus Precious Metals, Martin Danz, said that AGXX happens to be skin-friendly, BPR-compliant, and also suitable for a broad range of applications. Results from their joint tests with Covestro exhibit that AGXX can be blended with Impranil® PU dispersions so as to add long-lasting antimicrobial properties to the textile coatings when it comes to synthetic materials.
Tests have also revealed that incorporating AGXX along with INSQIN textile coatings technology from Covestro does not have an impact on the manufacturing processes. According to the global head of Textile Coatings at Covestro, Dr. Torsten Pohl, they found that AGXX can very well be mixed with their Impranil products without affecting the performance or properties of either solution or requiring any sort of alterations to the manufacturing processes in terms of coated textiles.
He further said that when combined with AGXX, their INSQIN technology goes on to maintain its cleanability and agility as well as its ability to withstand usage for long periods of time. When it comes to textile coating manufacturers, this sort of tried-and-tested guide formulation goes on to offer a fast as well as effective way to fill their coatings with much safer as well as more sustainable antimicrobial properties and at the same time also gain the sustainability enhancement when it comes to their low-VOC waterborne PU dispersions.
Due to the fact that the demand for hygienic, dependable, BPR-regulation-compliant, as well as safer, textile coatings is anticipated to increase, the AGXX and INSQIN technology combination will help the textile manufacturers to swiftly embrace the very fast-evolving requirements of the sharing economy.
