In certain applications, stains and defects generated by bacterial growth frequently appear, sometimes even generating a small biofilm on the surface (commonly known as biofilm).
To prevent this, the Technological Innovation team carried out a development for the additivation of certain plastic and elastomeric materials with new active ingredients that prevent the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms.The development was approached studying the processing conditions that affected the additive and that could degrade it, as well as different alternatives to protect it and increase its stability (encapsulation, addition of porous fillers…)
Once the critical parameters of the processing were identified, an intensive study focused on these parameters, as well as a complete characterization of the material and additive, was carried out.
During the optimization stages, successive characterizations of the material were carried out, of its mechanical, physical-chemical properties, as well as its effectiveness to protect the surface from bacterial growth through microbiological analysis techniques (according to international standards such as ISO 22196:2011).
- Inclusion of a new antimicrobial additive in the production of plastic parts
- Optimization of the processing parameters to avoid their degradation
- Selection of strategies to improve its stability during processing (encapsulation, addition of porous fillers…)
- Optimization of the production parameters to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the final part