Idvac ltd. has developed a novel process to use vacuum metallising techniques to deposit a thin layer of Polymer on flexible substrates such as Polyester and Fabric. Testing of the Antimicrobial properties of this Polymer coating was carried out by Gencoa, UK, using its new Gencoa-Miller testing method. The Gencoa-Miller method has been developed as a new method for evaluating antimicrobial efficacy in order to facilitate the fast research and development of antimicrobial coatings. The test result showed that Idvac Polymer coated PET film presented very good antimicrobial properties, >= Log 5 equivalent or about 100% on Gencoa-Miler scale.
Idvac has also found that the vacuum deposited Polymer layer can adhere well onto some metal or metal oxide surfaces. The Polymer/Metal or Polymer/Metal Oxide multi-layer combination has the advantage of protecting the metal from environmental effects and at the same time providing extra Antimicrobial properties.
The novel Polymer layer can be applied as a single or as Polymer/Metal multilayer coating onto a moving web of film, fabric, etc using roll-to-roll vacuum metallising equipment.
Vacuum metallising allows the deposition of materials in a clean, dry environment and can be done at high speed to reduce the cost of the end product. This process does not use any solvent or wet chemicals.
Idvac will conduct further biochemical/biomedical investigation of this Polymer coating against some viruses and may possibly include COVID-19 virus.
Polyester, Cotton Fabric or Paper filters coated with this Polymer could be used to make Antimicrobial face masks, hospital bed sheets, air filters and protective clothing for health applications.
In such applications, the innovative polymer, which exhibits excellent antimicrobial property, does not only block the penetration of the virus or bacteria but it can eliminate it in a very short time.
It is possible to consider this innovation as a surface biotechnology process providing PPE for the medical and health markets.
Source : Professor Nadir Ahmed, IDVAC Ltd.
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