FEATURE BEYOND CLEAN
Giorgio Rimini, Senior Director of Business Development (EMEA) at Microban International, explores how built-in antimicrobial technologies are enhancing the durability, hygiene and long-term performance of ceramic surfaces across healthcare, commercial and public spaces.
Previously, antimicrobial ceramic surfaces were largely confined to clinical environments such as hospitals, where cleanliness was uncompromising. Today, in addition to traditional healthcare, antimicrobial tile is becoming increasingly utilised in spaces such as commercial kitchens, bathrooms and communal areas.
This change reflects a shift in the market’s perspective on how manufacturers and building owners view surfaces and their performance. There is now a growing focus on what happens to a surface between cleaning cycles, and how products can support cleaner, more resilient built environments over time.
High-traffic, moisture-prone surfaces can accelerate microbial growth, with bacteria doubling in number every 20 minutes on an untreated surface. Microbes can survive on a ceramic surface for several weeks, making it a vector for product-degrading bacteria while also increasing the risk of cross-contamination on other surfaces. In many circumstances, once microbes have begun to proliferate, demanding cleaning routines are required to keep growth under control. Conventional cleaning delivers only temporary results, leading to higher costs in cleaning fees and material replacements, as well as contributing to commercial waste that ends up in landfills.
Antimicrobial ceramic tiles help address this challenge by inhibiting microbial growth directly on the surface. Antimicrobial technologies can be successfully incorporated into the ceramic glaze of tiles, helping to prevent the growth of microorganisms. The technology becomes an intrinsic part of the glaze under firing conditions, meaning it doesn’t wash off or wear away and works alongside an effective cleaning routine for continual surface protection. This helps to prevent microbial growth that can degrade the material, extending the usable lifetime of tiled surfaces and reducing the need for repeated product replacement.
Alternative types of antimicrobial treatment available in the market include photocatalytic technologies, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2). However, TiO2 requires strong UV light and moisture to produce Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), limiting its ability to maintain antibacterial efficacy, especially indoors. TiO2 has also been shown to react negatively with ammonia, which is a common ingredient in multi-surface cleaners. Unlike TiO2 technologies, built-in antimicrobials do not require the simultaneous presence of strong UV light and water to effectively kill microbes. Built-in antimicrobial technologies are permanently and durably incorporated into various ceramic products, including wall and floor tiles, laminated tiles, and sanitaryware.
Built-in antimicrobial chemistries can exploit the antibacterial properties of silver to achieve long-lasting efficacy on treated surfaces. The primary difference between standard disinfectants and built-in technologies is their performance over time. Built-in technologies continue to reduce bacterial growth for the product’s lifespan, whereas
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standard disinfectants have limited residual activity once the surface dries. For example, SilverShield by Microban International operates a multi-modal attack, eliminating up to 99.9% of bacterial growth on ceramic surfaces. Integrated at the stage of manufacture, the silver ion active ingredient is constantly presented on the surface of a treated product, ready to be released 24/7. Notified according to the European Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR), this technology helps create inherently cleaner ceramic products without affecting the durability, colour or finish.
When using antimicrobial ceramics, manufacturers can provide an easy, cost-effective product that extends lifetime use. Antimicrobial ceramics are an effective option to equip tiled surfaces in commercial spaces with long-lasting product protection. Cleanliness is becoming a new requirement for performance, particularly in spaces where user experience and sustainability are priorities, such as commercial, consumer, healthcare and building environments.
Antimicrobial ceramic surfaces are helping to shape what modern tile should deliver in overall performance. By partnering with a trusted antimicrobial technology provider, manufacturers can create products that meet relevant requirements and sustainability standards, contributing to cleaner, more durable environments.
www.microban.com
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