Fabrication and analysis of antimicrobial additives for powder coated surface

The efficiency of silver containing antimicrobial coatings depends on the release of the active component (silver ions) embedded in the coated surfaces. Fabrication and analysis of antimicrobial additives to powder coating were investigated in this research. An ion exchange process was used to incorporate the silver and copper ions into the synthetic zeolite LTA. Salts of these active agents in different combinations were tested to optimize the antimicrobial additives by achieving the highest concentration of active components. Yellowing and non-durable problems of this type of coating were studied and solution was proposed and examined. It was found the reduction of silver ions to Ag^o during the high temperature curing step causes the coating turns yellower and reduced the durability of the antimicrobial function. The release rate of the active components from the surface to the contaminated environment can be further controlled by using polymeric encapsulation on the additive. Transfer efficiency of the additives in the resin system during the spraying was improved by a PGS treatment. The improved additives from this study showed excellent antimicrobial efficiency and durability. Toxicity produced from the coated surface was proved from LDH analysis.